ARREST UPDATE:

Sometime between 9:25 a.m. and 1:52 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, 2026, a 15-year-old male caused the death of Elena Bonjolo, age 88 of West Camp Road, Saugerties. The Saugerties Police first became aware of the possible homicide when the youth was brought into the police station by family members.

Members of the Saugerties Police Department responded to 25 John Shults Road and found Bonjolo deceased outside of the abandoned residence at that location. Through an investigation and examination, the cause of death was determined to be a result of blunt impact injuries to the head and neck. Bonjolo, who lived in close proximity to the juvenile male, was not related to him, but both parties were known to each other.

The juvenile male, who is being treated as a juvenile offender, was arraigned early Monday morning by an accessible magistrate in Saugerties before being remanded to a secure facility, where he remains.

The Saugerties Police Department is being assisted by the New York State Police and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office. This is an active investigation, and further details will be released as they become available.

Juvenile Offender.  In this specific case, Wanchik is considered to be a juvenile offender because he is fifteen years of age, and had been accused of committing the act of Murder in the 2^nd Degree.  A Juvenile Offender, by statute, is criminal responsible for those acts. 

On June 7, 2026, shortly after 1:00 p.m., the Saugerties Police Department received information of a possible homicide in the hamlet of West Camp. An investigation ensued with the assistance of the New York State Police, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, and the Ulster County Child Advocacy Center. As a result of the investigation, a 15-year-old male from Saugerties was arrested and charged with Murder in the 2nd Degree. The Juvenile Offender was processed and arraigned at the Town of Saugerties Justice Court (Youth Part of the Superior Court) and remanded to a secure facility without bail, pending a future appearance in Ulster County Youth Part Court.

Information regarding the victim, an adult female, is being withheld at this time as the investigation is ongoing. Additional charges are expected.