On March 20, 2023, around 2:12 am, New York State Police responded to the AuSable Chasm Bridge on State Route 9 in the town of Chesterfield, Essex County, NY, for a suspicious death. When Troopers arrived on the scene, they located Kenneth C. Darrah, age 37 of Keeseville, NY, deceased on the riverbank on the north bank of the AuSable River.
The following day an autopsy was conducted at Glens Falls Hospital by Pathologist Dr. Michael Sikirica. The autopsy determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma and multiple stab wounds and the manner of death was a homicide.
On March 21, 2023, members of the New York State Police with the assistance of the Plattsburgh City Police Department, Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, Essex County Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations and United States Border Patrol arrested Michael J. Rougeau, age 48, and Michael A. Nastasia, age 30, both of Plattsburgh, for Murder 2nd degree.
Both men were he was sent to the Essex County Jail without bail.
On September 6, 2023, an indictment was filed with the Essex County Court charging Rougeau and Nastasia each with:
(1) count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-1 felony in violation of section 125.25 (1) of the Penal Law of the State of New York
(1) count of Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony, in violation of section 120.10 (1) of the Penal Law of the State of New York
(1) count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony in violation of section 265.02 (1) of the Penal Law of the State of New York
Rougeau and Nastasia are scheduled to appear in Essex County on September 12, 2023 at 10:30 am, for arraignment. Both remain held in the Essex County Jail without bail.
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