Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Michael A. Osuch, 67, of Hamburg, pleaded guilty yesterday morning before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges on to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge in full satisfaction of the indictment ahead of his jury trial, which was scheduled to begin next month.
On Sunday, May 8, 2022, at approximately 4:51 p.m., the defendant attacked his mother inside of their residence on Bristol Road in the Town of Hamburg. The defendant hit the victim in the head and body with an object before she was able to briefly escape the attack, run out of the house, and yell for help before the defendant dragged her back inside. The defendant’s 91-year-old mother was taken by ambulance to ECMC where she received treatment for serious physical injuries, including a laceration to her head and a fractured skull.
After attacking his mother, the defendant intentionally caused serious physical injuries to his sister, which resulted in her death. When his sister saw their mother bleeding outside of the house, she went inside to get a towel where she was attacked by the defendant. The defendant’s sister, 72-year-old Christine T. Osuch, suffered serious physical injuries, including a large cut to her head, fractured skull and a brain hemorrhage. She was taken by ambulance to ECMC where she later died on May 23, 2022. The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the manner of death as homicide caused by blunt force trauma to the head.
Osuch faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. He remains held without bail.
DA Keane commends the Town of Hamburg Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexander J. Trunfio of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau, Assistant District Attorney Denise A. Herman of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Garvey of the Buffalo City Court Bureau.