In December of 2018, in Buffalo, New York, a family's concern would lead to the discovery of a tragic event. On or about December 23rd, 57-year-old Cheneta Oldham was fatally shot in the home she shared with her son on Vernon Place. A concerned family member contacted the Buffalo police, prompting them to conduct a welfare check at the residence. Upon their arrival around 5:40 p.m., officers discovered Cheneta Oldham's body inside the home.
She had sustained gunshot wounds to her torso and leg.
The subsequent investigation swiftly led to a suspect, her son, Gus D. Oldham. At the time of the incident, he was 38 years old. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with his mother's death. Following his arrest, a judge ordered that he undergo a mental health evaluation.
In March 2019, a grand jury indicted Gus D. Oldham, who was then 39, on charges of Murder in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. However, the legal proceedings took a different turn when the Erie County Department of Mental Health determined that he was incompetent to understand the nature of the criminal proceedings against him. As a result, he was committed to a psychiatric facility in Rochester. The case was scheduled to be revisited pending a change in his mental competency status. As in all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
