Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 27-year-old Jared M. Adamski of Hamburg pleaded guilty this morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the lesser included offense in the highest count of the indictment for fatally stabbing 25-year-old Brenden J. Benoit of Boston, New York in Summer 2022.
Adamski and his co-defendants conspired to lure the victim to a wooded area with the intent to commit the crime. During the early morning hours of Sunday, July 10, 2022, Kayleigh Skybyk-Schuh drove the victim, Elexus Dean and two other individuals to a location near Heltz Road in Lake View. Jared Adamski, Harrison Drozen and Connor Krone were hiding in the woods to attack the victim.
The victim was punched by one of the male defendants as he exited the vehicle in the wooded area. The victim retreated back into the vehicle in an attempt to escape the attack. Jared Adamski, while armed with a knife, attacked the victim inside of the vehicle. Adamski, with the intent to cause serious physical injuries, stabbed the victim multiple times in the upper area of both legs. Adamski and his co-defendants drove away from the area, leaving the injured victim alone in the woods. The victim, Brenden Benoit, died at the scene.
Adamski, Skybyk-Schuh and Drozen entered guilty pleas head of their jury trial, which was scheduled to begin this week. On Friday, May 17, 2024, Kayleigh A. Skybyk-Schuh, 20, of Hamburg pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony) and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence (Class “E” felony). She pleaded guilty, as charged, to all counts in the indictment. Harrison J. Drozen, 22, of Hamburg pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony), the lesser included offense in the indictment, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
Connor E. Krone, 22, of the Village of Hamburg pleaded guilty for his involvement in the assault of the victim. He pleaded guilty to one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony) on July 24, 2023. Krone faces a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison. He was released on his own recognizance pending sentence.
Elexus O. Dean, 22, of the Village of Hamburg pleaded guilty to one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence (Class “E” felony) on October 6, 2023. She faces a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison. Dean also remains released on her own recognizance.
Another co-defendant pleaded guilty to one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony) for their involvement in the crime. As the defendant must be sentenced as a youthful offender due to their age at the time of the crime, our office will not be releasing their identity.
Adamski, Drozen and Skybyk-Schuh each face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. All remain held without bail. A sentencing date has not been scheduled at this time.
“With the consent of the victim’s family, our office offered the defendant a plea to the reduced charge under the conditions that he receive the maximum sentence and waive his right to appeal. I hope that the family and friends of Brenden Benoit feel that justice has been served by all six defendants pleading guilty to charges for their involvement in this senseless and horrific crime,” said Acting Erie County DA Mike Keane.
Acting DA Keane commends the Town of Hamburg Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Ryan D. Haggerty of the Narcotics/Intelligence Bureau and Assistant Chief Gina M. Gramaglia of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau.
