Hudson Valley Teen Jailed For Murdering Local Elderly Woman
A Hudson Valley teen is heading to prison for the gruesome 2014 murder of an 81-year-old woman.
On Wednesday in Orange County Court, 19-year-old Jennifer P. Molyneaux of Wallkill was sentenced to 19 years to life in state prison for killing of 81-year-old Helen Mills in her Village of Goshen home in 2014.
On August 2, 2014, Molyneaux and her then boyfriend, 22-year-old Devin A. Giordano of Goshen, 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.
“Helen Mills knew nothing about heroin, yet the opioid epidemic took her life also,” Orange County District Attorney David M, Hoovler said. “It is beyond comprehension that anyone would kill a defenseless, elderly, woman in her own bedroom just to get money.”
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.
In February, Giordano pleaded guilty to murder, burglary, tampering with physical evidence and arson for his role in a botched burglary. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison in March.
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