In the quiet community of Indian Lake, New York, the life of 32-year-old David J. Chenier was cut short on the evening of Saturday, August 12, 2023. A graduate of Indian Lake Central School, Chenier was a man who found joy in the outdoors, often fishing, hunting, camping, and hiking in the scenic surroundings he called home. He was a dedicated employee at Elkin Tree Service for six years, a job he thoroughly enjoyed.
Above all, he was a devoted husband to his wife, Bailey, and a loving father to his two daughters.
The tragic events unfolded on Big Brook Road, where State Police responded to a report of shots fired at approximately 8:12 p.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered David Chenier deceased at his home. An autopsy later confirmed that he had sustained fatal gunshot wounds to his chest and neck.
The investigation quickly led authorities to a suspect, Ann Marie Favro, a 57-year-old woman from Saranac Lake. Favro, who was Chenier's mother-in-law, was taken into custody following a traffic stop just hours after the shooting. The motive for the killing was not explicitly detailed, though the district attorney noted that Favro had attempted to justify her actions as a measure to protect her daughter.
Evidence presented by the prosecution revealed a chilling premeditation to the crime. On the day of the murder, Favro had informed her employer of her intent to kill her son-in-law and had even sought assistance from others to carry out the act. She then drove from Saranac Lake to Chenier's residence in Indian Lake. A porch camera near Chenier's home captured footage of Favro's vehicle arriving and leaving within a four-minute window. The investigation also included a search for the murder weapon, a gun believed to have been discarded by Favro, although it was never recovered. Authorities did find. 30-30 ammunition shells at the scene.
Ann Marie Favro was charged with second-degree murder. She was arraigned in the town of Indian Lake Court and initially held at the Hamilton County Jail without bail before being transferred to the Fulton County Jail. In August 2024, Favro pleaded guilty to the charge. Subsequently, she was sentenced to 17 years to life in prison. During the sentencing, statements from Chenier's wife, brother, and sister were presented to the court, each speaking to the profound loss and the impact his death has had on their family, particularly on his young children who were deprived of their father.
