VAN BUREN, NY (WSYR-TV) – A man who served 28 years in prison for a murder in New York City was arrested in connection with the death of a woman in the Town of Van Buren, according to Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin Walsh.
The body of Rebecca J. Dethlefs, found Sunday at Village Green Apartments, may have been there for a week. She was living with a man believed to be her husband, 67-year-old Robert Burger. Neighbors told deputies Burger had left the area several days ago to visit friends or family in Middletown, NY.
Onondaga County Sheriff’s investigators say a maintenance worker was called to the apartment around 2:30pm Friday because neighbors were complaining about a foul odor.
He went into the apartment, found Dethlefs' body and called 911. State Police near Middletown assisted in the investigation and located Dethlef’s vehicle.
Detectives with the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office drove to Middletown to interview and arrest Burger, who was brought back to Onondaga County for an arraignment on charges of second-degree Murder.
Burger is on lifetime parole for a murder he was convicrted of in 1964 in New York City, according to Sheriff Walsh.
On December 28th, Sheriff’s deputies were called to the apartment because Dethlefs’ employer said she had not shown up for a couple of shifts as a traveling nurse at a hospital. At the time, neighbors indidcated she may have been visiting relatives in New York City and Sheriff Walsh says deputies did not have a reason to break into the apartment.
“She works as a traveling nurse for a company out of Florida. She was working at a local hospital and hadn't shown up for a couple of shifts,” said Sheriff Kevin Walsh.
\Walsh says Burger is being cooperative and the department is still following a number of leads.
"We're pretty confident that we have the right person," said Walsh.
There is no definitive cause of death yet as investigators are still waiting for toxicology results. The medical examiner did rule the death a homicide.
The Onondaga County Sheriff's office asks that if anyone has information on the case that they call 435-3081.
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