Mary Whitaker, a talented 61-year-old female violinist, was tragically killed on August 20, 2014, in what authorities described as a burglary that turned deadly at her summer home in Westfield, New York. A respected musician, Whitaker had been a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra for 36 seasons and also played with the Westchester Philharmonic for over two decades. Her friends became concerned when they were unable to reach her and discovered her body at her Titus Road residence. An autopsy confirmed that she died from a gunshot wound.
The investigation quickly led law enforcement to two suspects: Jonathan Conklin, then 43, and Charles Sanford, then 30. Authorities reported that the two men, both of no fixed address, had planned to burglarize Whitaker's home. The crime took a violent turn when Whitaker unexpectedly encountered them. According to prosecutors, Sanford knocked on her door asking to use the phone as a ruse, while Conklin hid outside with a gun. When Whitaker complied, Conklin shot her. She was shot once in the leg and fatally in the chest. After the murder, the perpetrators stole her vehicle and her credit card. Her car was later found in Erie, Pennsylvania, after her credit card was used in the area, which helped investigators track the suspects.
Both Conklin and Sanford were arrested and faced state and federal charges. In November 2015, both men pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. In May 2016, Jonathan Conklin was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison for the murder. He also received a consecutive federal sentence for carjacking. Charles Sanford was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison for his role in the murder and also faced a federal charge for illegally possessing a firearm.
