Sherrill, NY -- Last week, Bob Adams saw David L. Trebilcock teaching his girlfriend’s three children how to fish in a nearby lake.
Tuesday morning, Adams called 911 when two of the children escaped to his house in the tiny city of Sherrill after Trebilcock stabbed their sister, Lauren Belius, 6, in a fatal attack, police said.
The child’s mom, Allison Belius, awoke to the sound of her daughter screaming for help. The 36-year-old mother tried to enter the bedroom of her twin 6-year-old daughters, but she found the door barricaded with a dresser, police said. As she forced her way inside about 8:30 a.m., police said, Belius saw her live-in boyfriend stabbing Lauren.
While Belius attempted to stop the attack, her other two children, ages 6 and 9, ran to Adams’ house.
Another neighbor, Cathy Spoletini, 44, of Ross Terrace, heard the screams and ran to help. The mom had run out of the house holding Lauren. “You don’t even have time to think,” Spoletini said. “It was more of a reaction.”
Spoletini said she tried, unsuccessfully, to resuscitate Lauren using CPR.
Primo Avenue neighbor Carol Kramer recalled the blood she saw when she walked out her front door to leave for work. “I felt like I was in the middle of a horror movie,” she said.
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Lani Christman, 7, wears a pin with a picture of her friend Lauren Belius, who was stabbed to death Tuesday morning. Christman and her mother, Amanda Christman, attended a memorial service for Lauren near Sherrill City Hall. Lauren and Lani were classmates at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Elementery School.
The girl was pronounced dead at Oneida Healthcare Center. Her death was the first homicide in New York’s smallest city in nearly 40 years, authorities said.
Less than 12 hours after the stabbing stunned the quiet community, those three neighbors — Adams, Spoletini and Kramer — joined about 100 others at an evening candlelight vigil for Lauren Belius.
Jennifer Mudge, 26, said she didn’t know the Belius family but wanted to show support. “We want the family to know that there are good people in the world that want to support them,” said Mudge, whose 5-year-old daughter, Emilee, brought a green teddy bear to place next to the candles on the gazebo.
Trebilcock, 30, remained in police custody Tuesday night at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Utica, where he was being treated for numerous stab wounds. Police said he is expected to be charged with second-degree murder when he is released.
Police said his wounds were not life-threatening. Investigators said they were trying to determine whether Trebilcock inflicted them on himself or Allison Belius cut him while trying to stop the attack on her daughter.
During a press conference Tuesday afternoon in Oneida, state police offered no details about what might have triggered the stabbing. “It is a terrible incident,” Capt. Mark Lincoln said. “There is a lot more investigation we need to undertake.”
State police recovered a knife from the stabbing scene at 408 Primo Ave. The family has lived in the two-story white house with black shutters for a number of years, according to property records.
Several neighbors said they had seen the children often playing in the yard but did not know them personally. A basketball hoop stands in the driveway; a white stockade fence blocks the view of a backyard play set. The homes on the block are well-maintained, with flowers, American flags and manicured front lawns.
“Everyone looks out for everyone else’s kids,” Adams, 55, of 412 Primo Ave. said. “Everyone thinks it is a great place to bring up kids.
“Obviously, it is not safe anywhere anymore,” he continued. “This is the kind of thing you read about, not something that happens next door.”
The Sherrill Police Department maintains two full-time officers and a handful of part-time positions, who mainly handle medical calls, traffic violations and other small crimes. The city’s summer newsletter includes a note from the police department reminding residents to mow their lawns, be wary of pedestrians and observe “quiet hours” from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Mike Greenlar / The Post Standard
Danielle Chase, of Oneida, hugs her 10-year-old son, Justin Collins, during a moment of prayer at a memorial service Tuesday for Lauren Belius, 6, who was stabbed to death earlier in the day.
The last homicide in the city occurred in 1973, when a 17-year-old attendant at the former Seaway gas station was robbed and murdered, Sherrill police said.
News of Tuesday’s homicide shook the small community, which boasts a welcome sign at the Oneida County border that identifies Sherrill as “the smallest city in New York state,” with just 3,119 residents, according to U.S. Census estimates in 2009.
But, “it doesn’t matter where you are,” said Spoletini on Tuesday evening, still shaken from what she saw.
The news of Lauren Belius’ death raced around the tight-knit community. The weekly concert at the municipal park gazebo was canceled. Word of mouth brought about 100 members of the community out to an impromptu vigil, organized by a group of young mothers from Munnsville. “Facebook, texts, phone calls,” Collins said. “We all know each other here.”
Many adults were joined by children, including several of Lauren’s classmates from E.A. McAllister Elementary School. Lani Christman, 7, remembered when Lauren brought her a lollipop on the school bus.
Sadie Riggs said she cut her hair to donate to Locks of Love. “I remember she was beautiful,’ said Kiearra Collins, 7. “I’m going to miss her.”
Amanda Christman and Tara Collins said they told their daughters the news together. “How do you tell your child that?” said Christman, who later made a pin with the Lauren’s yearbook photo to wear to the vigil.
After sunset, the neighbors regrouped to walk down Primo Avenue with candles, placing flowers and other mementos in front of the Belius house after the police tape had been removed.
Grief counseling for community members will be offered 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at E.A. McAllister Elementary School, 217 Kinsey St., Sherrill.
“When you lose one, it feels like you lost your own,” Kramer said, her eyes welling up wit h tears. “I think the best thing I can say is go home and hug your children, support your domestic violence organizations and be kind to people.”
Contact Alaina Potrikus at 470-3252 or apotrikus@syracuse.com.
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