35-year-old Hurley resident Shawn Tyler, accused of beating his landlord Ann Gaffney to death with a sledgehammer last December to steal a few hundred dollars from her pocket, pled guilty in Ulster County court yesterday to first-degree murder.
The expected sentence is less than the maximum for first-degree murder, which is life in prison with no chance for parole. District Attorney Holley Carnright said his office is recommending the slightly more lenient sentence based on several factors, including the feelings of the victim’s family.
"I have handled my share of murder cases over the years. This one was particularly chilling," Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright said in a prepared statement. "In my judgment, this was nothing short of a cold-blooded, premeditated killing."
