As I promised, I want to communicate material information about the abduction of our two students on a timely basis.
Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley recently distributed the release below. It highlights the ongoing efforts by her office to move as rapidly as is responsible to identify and prosecute those culpable in this case.
Let me articulate my gratitude to District Attorney Doorley and Chief of Police Michael Ciminelli for their professionalism and commitment of the resources necessary to rescue our students and move as rapidly as they did.
I share with the District Attorney confidence in the safety of our University and look forward to further discussion of this case when the investigation and grand jury presentations are completed.
News Release from
The Honorable Sandra Doorley
Monroe County District Attorney
December 9, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMMUNITY RELATIONS COORDINATOR: Mary Wilmot
Monroe County District Attorney’s Office
47 South Fitzhugh Street
Rochester, NY 14614
(585) 753-4532
District Attorney Sandra Doorley Addresses Kidnapping Investigation of Two University of Rochester Students
Rochester, NY- Yesterday, in Rochester City Court, six (6) individuals were arraigned on felony charges related to the abduction of two University of Rochester students. Dennis Perez DOB 11/14/91, Lydell Strickland DOB 10/1/89, Samantha Hughes DOB 2/20/96 and Leah Gigliotti DOB 1/7/95 have been charged with the A-1 felony of Kidnapping in the First Degree. They are being held without bail. Ruth M. Lora DOB 4/7/96 and Inalia Rolldan DOB 12/28/95 have been charged with Kidnapping in the Second Degree. Bail has been set for Lora and Rolldan in the amount of $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for all six defendants on December 11, 2015 at 11:00 am. The Monroe County District Attorney’s Office will present this matter to a grand jury prior to the preliminary hearing date.
In light of the complex and ongoing nature of this investigation, the Rochester Police Department, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office and the University of Rochester must, at this time, refrain from discussing the facts and circumstances surrounding the abduction of the two students. It is imperative that the Rochester Police Department, in collaboration with the Monroe County District Attorney’s office, have sufficient time to conduct a thorough investigation in this matter. Although everyone involved in this investigation understands the community’s desire to know more, at this time releasing additional information would be detrimental to the investigation. Further discussion regarding the facts and circumstances of this horrendous case will occur at a time when such information can be shared with the public without impacting the investigation and prosecution.
Although the victims are students at the University of Rochester, they were not abducted from the University of Rochester campus, or any related student housing. As members of law enforcement, we wish to ensure the University of Rochester community as well as the Greater Rochester community as a whole that we are all working together to ensure the safety of the students and other members of our community.