ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The man who was the subject of a more than a decade-long manhunt for a murder inside a credit union will not face the death penalty if convicted. ‘
Authorities said Richard Wilbern, who is charged with the 2003 shooting and killing of Raymond Batzel inside a branch of the then Xerox FCU in Webster, N.Y., will instead face a life sentence if convicted.
Wilbern, who also worked at Xerox, also shot another member who survived the wounds.
United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch has decided to not seek the death penalty in the case, making that decision last week. Wilbern learned that during a federal court appearance, TWCNews.com reported.
As CUToday.info reported earlier, police were finally led to Wilbern, 56, in September after a tipster said they had worked with Wilbern at Xerox before he was fired. Wilbern later filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination.
http://www.cutoday.info/Fresh-Today/How-Authorities-Found-Suspect-In-13-Year-Old-Murder-Case
FBI Special Agent in Charge Adam Cohen said authorities obtained DNA evidence from an umbrella that Wilbern left behind at the time of the robbery, according to wxxi.com. Cohen said there were three things that helped solve this case.
“First, an incredibly brave and remarkable tipster, who provided the name that we needed to press this case forward,” Cohen was quoted as saying. “Second, advances in science and technology, which have proven significant in so many other cases. And, last, some very bright, very dedicated agents, analyst and investigators.”
Cohen reported that authorities were able to get a sample of DNA from Wilbern when he stopped by the FBI office to follow up on a complaint he made about a real estate scam. He licked an envelope and the FBI got DNA from that to match against the umbrella, wxxi.com reported.
"I'm pleased that the Attorney General made the right decision in this case and decided not to seek the death penalty," said Bill Easton, Wilbern's death penalty counsel told TWCNews.com. "His family, of course, is relieved as anyone would be not to have that type of punishment hanging over their head."
Easton has now been removed as Wilbern's death penalty counsel. He'll continue to be represented by federal public defender Anne Burger. Wilbern returns to court Jan. 18 for a detention hearing, the news station reported.
Meanwhile, in Waco, Texas, Michael Hanley Penix, 52, who spent a decade as marketing director at Members Choice of Central Texas FCU, who had admitted to shooting his wife to death, has been sentenced to 99 years in prison.
According to an autopsy report, Rebecca Jayne Penix, 52, died from four gunshot wounds to her face, an autopsy report said. Penix had called 911 to report the incident and told the dispatcher he had shot his wife after she woke him up and started arguing with him.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Penix was with MCCTFCU from April of 2005 through January of 2015, during which time he graduated from CUNA Management School. Penix described himself as a “hands-on operations and ethical leader…”