UPDATE: 01/07/2015 3:49pm  Utica Police have formally charged 21-year old Paul Bumbolo with three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of his relatives.

Photo Credit: Utica Police
Photo Credit: Utica Police
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UPDATE: 01/07/2015 10:28am   "I've been on this job most of a full twenty-seven years and it's probably one of the worst scenes I've seen. "  That is how Utica Police Chief Mark Williams is describing the site of a murder of three people overnight.  The location remains the site of an active investigation and law enforcement personnel are still processing it.

Williams is confirming that the suspect was arrested in Yorkville this morning.  Utica Police say he was completely nude at the time of the arrest.

Authorities are confirming that the man, whose identity is being withheld for the time being, had been released earlier in the day after being treated for a mental health evaluation at a local hospital.  Details on exactly which hospital are still being confirmed.

Police are still processing the crime scene from a multiple homicide that occurred overnight.  Authorities are now confirming that three adults, all related to the suspect in custody, were killed in the first floor apartment located at 1908 Whitesboro Street in Utica.

Two women and one man were killed.  Police are not yet identifying the victims by name, or stating the identity of the alleged murderer, nor are they releasing the cause of death.

Chief Mark Williams says that they do expect to release the names before the close of business today.  He asked for patience on the part of the media and the public.  The crime scene, he says, is "very large...with a lot of work that still needs to be done."  He says it is going to take time to thoroughly process the scene.

Williams said he does not want to comment on any weapons used or the cause of death until the coroner has had time to investigate.

UPD Lt. Steve Hauck says investigators are still on the scene.  He added that the crime scene encompasses the entire first floor of the dwelling, and extends to the outside of the home.

Hauck added that a search warrant had to be obtained at one point during the search process:

Williams explained why the crime scene is so large, stating that not only were multiple rooms in the home involved, but also that the suspect fled the scene.  His investigators, he said, still need more time.

Despite the fact that the suspect is believed to have received a mental health evaluation prior to the incident, police say they cannot comment as to the suspect's state of mind, and cannot offer a possible defense because of his mental state.

Hauck said that investigators are now trying to establish a timeline for the murders and the incidents which might have taken place prior to them.

Williams described the crime scene:

The suspect is being interviewed by police.  Criminal charges have not yet been filed.

Hauck and Williams reiterated the fact that they do not believe that the public is in any danger, and that the suspect in custody is, they believe, the only one responsible for the murders.  They said that because of the fact that the victims, as well as the alleged killer, are all related, that this remains a sensitive matter for the family involved and they are withholding identities for the time being out of respect for that family.

Williams says the suspect was not wearing clothing when he was arrested in Yorkville and, their information indicates, when he left the house after the murders.

Utica Mayor Rob Palmieri was also present at the news conference, which took place following a promotion ceremony for the UPD.

Photo Credit: Jim Rondenelli, WIBX / Townsquare Media
Photo Credit: Jim Rondenelli, WIBX / Townsquare Media
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UPDATE: 01/07/2015 9:02am Utica Police are expected to answer questions about the incident at approximately 10:15 this morning.  We will update this post in real time as that news conference takes place.

Utica Police are still on the scene of a murder involving multiple victims.

WIBX has been contacted by several people connected to those directly involved.  We are respecting the wishes of police who are asking that no details be released that may hamper the current investigation.

Original Story:

Several people were found dead on the 1900 block of Whitesboro Street at approximately 12:40 this morning.

A suspect is in custody.

Because of the extremely sensitive nature of the case, few details are being released.

This is a developing story and we will provide you with more information as soon as it is available.

(with additional reporting by Jim Rondenelli, WIBX / Townsquare Media)


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