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March 27, 2013 -- Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Charles Blanchard (DOB 12/17/90) of 32 Moses Avenue, Hill, New Hampshire was sentenced today to eighteen years to life in prison on his January 2013 guilty plea to:

  • two counts of Murder in the Second Degree, class “A-1” Felonies,
  • one count of Kidnapping in the First Degree, a class “A” Felony.

Blanchard was charged as acting in concert with three accomplices, Jessica Ryan French (DOB 08/22/87) of 2703 10th Street SW, Lehigh Acres, Florida, Travis Morin (DOB 10/15/87) of 6 Jones Hill Road, Danbury, New Hampshire and Patrick Smith DOB (06/02/87) of 2703 10th Street SW, Lehigh Acres, Florida, while aiding and abetting each other causing the death of Epifanio Medina whose decomposed body was discovered in the Town of North Salem on June 12, 2011.

French pled guilty in May 2012 and is awaiting sentencing.

Morin and Smith are awaiting trial.

On June 12, 2011, two horseback riders discovered the decomposing body of a male, later learned to be 65 year old, Epifanio Medina in the woods of North Salem.

The victim, a Florida resident had been living in Passaic, New Jersey.

He was known to carry large amounts of cash and wore a lot of flashy jewelry. He frequented a liquor store in Passaic, New Jersey and was last seen exiting that store on June 2, 2011 at 4:00 pm.

The New York State Police commenced an extensive, wide ranging investigation and on June 12th 2011, the deceased was identified.

Police also learned that deceased had been reported missing by family members on June 5, 2011 and that he had been living in Passaic, New Jersey.

Based on information developed, New York State Police expanded their investigation both down to Florida and up to New Hampshire.

Blanchard is French’s half brother and Smith was French’s boyfriend at the time of the murder and father of her child.

Assistant District Attorney Nadine Nagler of the Career Criminal Bureau is prosecuting the cases.

 

 

In compliance with Disciplinary Rule 7-107A of the Code of Professional Responsibility, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.