Victoria E. Freile – Staff writer
Local News – January 22, 2011 - 5:00am
A Rochester man pleaded not guilty Friday in connection with the slaying of a woman found dead inside a garbage bin earlier this month.
Matthew Townsend, 44, of Jay Street was charged with second-degree murder, a felony, said Rochester Police Officer Stephen Scott.
Townsend is accused of strangling Toccara Harmon, 27, who was found dead inside a garbage bin on Lyell Avenue about 1:45 p.m. Jan. 7. She had been inside the garbage can for less than 24 hours, police said.
City Court documents allege that Townsend strangled Harmon on Spencer Street sometime between 11 p.m. Jan 6 and 7 a.m. the next day. He’s also accused of placing her body in a green garbage tote and moving the bin behind a building on Lyell Avenue.
Police said Harmon had a history of prostitution. It is not believed that Harmon and Townsend had a previous relationship, Scott said.
Townsend was remanded to the Monroe County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to return to City Court for a preliminary hearing at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
With this arrest, Scott said, Rochester Police have filed charges in connection with all three 2011 city homicides.
VFREILE@DemocratandChronicle.com
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