In the quiet town of Orchard Park, New York, the life of 51-year-old Ruby Stiglmeier was brought to a tragic and sudden end on March 29, 2016. A relative visiting her home on Queens Place that Tuesday evening discovered a scene of profound loss, finding both Stiglmeier and her 53-year-old ex-boyfriend, David Lewczyk, deceased inside. The events that unfolded painted a grim picture of a domestic dispute that had escalated to a fatal conclusion.
Orchard Park police investigators determined that Stiglmeier had been shot three times by Lewczyk before he turned the gun on himself in a devastating murder-suicide. The couple's history revealed a troubled past, marked by a domestic incident that had occurred just a few months prior. In December of the previous year, Lewczyk had reportedly destroyed property in the home, stolen some items, and started a small fire in the garage.
Following that incident, Lewczyk, a resident of Panama, New York, located about 80 miles south of Buffalo, turned himself in to authorities in January. He was facing charges of felony criminal mischief, petit larceny, and arson, with a court appearance scheduled for the following month. The legal proceedings, however, were tragically cut short by the events that transpired at Stiglmeier's residence.
In the wake of the violence, the community was left to mourn the loss of Ruby Stiglmeier, a woman remembered for her warmth and kindness. The investigation by the Orchard Park Police sought to piece together the final hours leading up to the murder-suicide, urging anyone who had been in contact with either Stiglmeier or Lewczyk in the 24 hours prior to their deaths to come forward with information. The case concluded with the determination that no other suspects were involved in the tragic deaths.
