HUDSON – An Elizaville couple were arraigned on Wednesday after being indicted on charges of murder related to the death of an elderly man that had been staying with them since late 2001. The two have been remanded to the Columbia County Jail, according to Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka.
Cassandra Fischer, age 30, and Ryan Woods, age 29, reside together in Elizaville and were arraigned on Wednesday. The two previously lived on Long Island where they both have arrest records.
Czajka said the two were indicted by a grand jury on charges of murder, multiple counts of endangering the welfare of a vulnerable elderly person, and endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person. Ms. Fischer also faces a felony charge of grand larceny.
Ms. Fischer and Mr. Woods are accused of mistreating, stealing from, and causing the death of an elderly Long Island man who had been staying with them since late 2021.
The New York State Police began their investigation into the death in February of this year..
District Attorney Czajka commended “The highly professional and diligent work of Senior Investigator Eric Barnes, Investigator James Sokolowski as well as the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit,” when discussing the arraignment.
