On a summer day in 2017, the quiet life of 82-year-old Raymond C. Cornelius was tragically cut short. A male resident of the Town of Ward in Allegany County, New York, he was found deceased in his home on Wadsworth Hill Road on the morning of July 3rd, 2017. Family members had become concerned after being unable to reach him by phone for a couple of days, with the last contact having been on the evening of Saturday, July 1, 2017. Upon checking on him, a family member made the grim discovery and alerted the authorities.
Investigators arriving at the scene found a broken window and determined that Mr. Cornelius had been fatally shot in the back from outside his residence. The official cause of his death was a single gunshot wound to the torso. Despite the violent nature of his death, those who knew him reported that he had no known enemies, leaving both his family and law enforcement puzzled as to a motive for the homicide.
The New York State Police have been actively investigating the case since 2017, but it remains unsolved. Investigators have pursued various leads and have even executed search warrants in the years following the murder. The case is considered a priority, with investigators asserting it is not a 'cold case' and that they continue to work on it actively. To encourage the public to come forward with any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, a reward of up to $12,500 has been offered by CrimeStoppers of Western New York for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for this crime. As of late 2025, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in the murder of Raymond Cornelius. The investigation continues, with his family still seeking answers and justice for their loved one.
