An 88 year old man's remains are found after several suspects visited his home In the late summer of 1997, concern rippled through a quiet neighborhood in Peru, New York, when 88-year-old Walter C. Fedorwich hadn't been seen for several days. A neighbor's call for a welfare check on September 15th led to a grim discovery at his residence on State Route 22. Inside his home, law enforcement found Mr. Fedorwich, a white male, deceased.
He had been tied to his bed and his death was ruled a homicide, caused by traumatic asphyxia and blunt force injuries to his head.
Walter Fedorwich was a retired construction worker and a well-known local figure, often seen sporting a cowboy hat and boots. Due to poor eyesight, he frequently relied on taxis or hitchhiking to get around. He was known to be a sociable man, but also one who was distrustful of banks, preferring to keep large sums of money on his person and at his home. It was a habit that may have made him a target. Investigators believe that robbery was the motive for his murder, as a significant amount of cash he was known to possess was never found. The crime scene itself appeared to have been ransacked, suggesting the perpetrators were searching for something of value.
In the days leading up to his death, Mr. Fedorwich was reportedly trying to sell some vehicles he owned. One of the last times he was seen alive, he was engaged in a conversation with two unidentified white men dressed in biker-style clothing at the end of his driveway. These men were seen with a dark-colored vehicle. This encounter remains a focal point in the unsolved case. Investigators also learned that he had recently visited family in Rochester, New York, and considered the possibility that a connection to that area could be relevant to the investigation.
Despite the passage of time, the murder of Walter Fedorwich remains an open and active cold case. New York State Police have continued to appeal to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough. Over the years, evidence has been resubmitted for analysis with the hope that advancements in forensic technology could shed new light on the crime. However, to date, no arrests have been made and no specific suspects have been publicly identified in connection with his death. The case stands as a lingering mystery, a violent end to the life of an elderly man in his own home.
