ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — Officers in Orchard Park say events between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning took a toll on even their seasoned officers as they investigated a murder-suicide involving a local man and woman.
Police say a family member of Ruby Stiglmeir, 51, entered the home and found the couple in the bedroom and called 911.
“She went over to the location to get in touch with her,” said Orchard Park Police Chief Mark Pacholec. “She tried to get in touch over phone and wasn’t able to so she did go to the house and found the relative deceased along with her boyfriend.”
Officers say they believe David Lewczyk, 53, shot Stiglmeir three times with a handgun. Police say Lewczyk had a gunshot wound to the head.
Police say preliminary autopsy results support their suspicion the deaths were a murder-suicide, with Lewczyk utilizing his registered handgun to kill his girlfriend and then himself.
The couple has had run-ins with the police in the past. Officers say they investigated a domestic incident between the two in December.
“In this case, the boyfriend David Lewczyk, on December 6 came over to the house and was angry and destroyed property, stole items,” says Chief Pacholec.
Pacholec says Lewczyk also set a few items on fire.
A warrant was issued for him on Dec. 11 when a ‘stay away’ order of protection was also put into place. Police say on Jan. 19 Lewczyk turned himself in and was arraigned for felony criminal mischief, misdemeanor petty larceny and misdemeanor arson in the fifth degree. Stiglmeir also asked the order of protection be reduced to the ‘refrain from’ level.
“‘Refrain from’ typically means you won’t harass, intimidate, menace, stalk, annoy, harm or physically strike,” said Pacholec.
Lewczyk was supposed to be back in court in April.
Police say they’re awaiting toxicology results, which could return from the lab in six to eight weeks. Police say they’re also looking to the public for help.
Anybody who may have spoken with Lewczyk or Stiglmeir before their deaths is asked to call police to report the conversations, to help police understand their mentality leading up to the fatal event.
News 4 will continue to follow the story and update details when they become available.
