A Hudson Valley man may spend the rest of his life in jail for the death of an 81-year-old woman.

On Thursday in Orange County Court, 22-year-old Devin A. Giordano of Goshen, was sentenced to 20 to life in state prison for the killing of 81-year old Helen Mills in her Village of Goshen home in April 2014.

“This sentencing ends only one portion of this tragic event which the victim’s family, and the entire community, will continue to struggle through,” District Attorney David Hoovler said. “It is utterly reprehensible that anyone would kill a defenseless, elderly, woman in her own bedroom just to get money.”

In February, Giordano pleaded guilty to murder, burglary, tampering with physical evidence and arson for his role in a botched burglary.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Giordano admitted that he and his then girlfriend, 18-year-old Jennifer P. Molyneaux of Wallkill, entered Mills’ home to steal money from the elderly victim.

When Mills refused, she was killed by Molyneaux and Giordano set the house on fire to destroy evidence.

On February 25, 2015, Molyneaux confessed she entered Mills’ home to steal money, placed her hands on the elderly woman’s throat, hit her and smothered her with a pillow, before gasoline was spread around the house and it was set ablaze.
Molyneaux also said she took drugs before the murder.

“There is a nexus between illicit narcotics and violent crime. Even though Helen Mills knew nothing about heroin, the opioid epidemic
took her life also,” Hoovler said.

An autopsy performed on Mills showed she died from blunt force trauma wounds to her head and throat injuries that are consistent with her having been beaten and strangled, officials say.

Molyneaux is scheduled to be sentenced on May 17.

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