In the quiet community of Summitville, New York, a tragic event shattered the peace on August 19, 2019. Ashley Greene, a 33-year-old woman, was found deceased outside the home she shared with her mother on Mount Vernon Road. An investigation by the New York State Police and the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office revealed she had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
At the time of her death, Greene was pregnant with a son she had named Abraham.
The investigation quickly identified a suspect: 70-year-old Richard S. Boniface of Mamakating. Greene was known to have worked for Boniface, performing odd jobs such as landscaping and cleaning. According to police, Boniface drove to Greene's residence on that Monday morning and shot her multiple times before fleeing the scene in his black 2006 Ford F250 pickup truck. Greene's mother, who was home during the attack, was able to provide information to law enforcement that pointed to Boniface as the perpetrator.
A search for Boniface ensued, and his vehicle was later discovered in a wooded area off of Roosa Gap Road in the town of Mamakating. A short distance from the truck, authorities found Boniface's body. It was determined that he had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
With the death of the sole suspect, the case was classified as a murder-suicide. While the exact motive for the violent act remained under investigation, authorities were exploring the possibility that Boniface had been infatuated with Greene. It was noted, however, that Greene had a significant other at the time. The sudden and violent nature of the events left the community in shock and mourning the loss of both Ashley and her unborn child. No further arrests were made in connection with the case.
