Press release
On April 19, 2023, the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of Shamokin Dam
Police Department in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, recovered a missing 16-year-old child
following an approximate six-month long investigation.
The recovery led to multiple arrests, and further charges are pending.
The investigation initiated on October 24, 2022, when the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office was
contacted regarding a missing child. Throughout the investigation, investigators worked with
multiple local and federal agencies in search of the missing child, including the New York State
Missing Person’s Clearinghouse.
In December 2022, Christopher J. Comfort, 41, of Warsaw, NY, was indicted and arraigned for having phone contact with the missing child, who he was prohibited from contacting due to an order of protection.
On April 18, 2023, the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office attempted to execute an arrest warrant which had been issued for Christopher J. Comfort by Wyoming County Court for violation of pre-trial conditions. Nobody was found inside the residence, however, a loaded .270 rifle was seized from within Comfort’s bedroom. Comfort, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing any firearms due to multiple convictions. An open window on the back of the residence led to a search of the area. Comfort was observed by investigators running near a railroad bed with a young female. This led to a search of a heavily wooded area with a drone and K-9, with negative results.
On the following date, investigators were able to determine that Marie A. Vinci, 60 of
Willington, NC, Comfort’s mother, had paid for a hotel room at an EconoLodge in Shamokin
Dam, Pennsylvania. Investigators contacted Shamokin Dam Police Department who assisted
with investigating at the hotel. Video from the hotel showed Comfort and a young individual
walking through the hallway with Marie Vinci. A search warrant was then obtained for a search
of the hotel room.
Shamokin Dam Police, with the assistance of Pennsylvania State Police, Sunbury Police
Department, and a Snyder County Detective, executed the search warrant at the EconoLodge.
Inside the hotel room, Christopher J. Comfort was located and taken into custody, and the
missing juvenile was recovered without incident. Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office Deputies
responded and returned with the missing juvenile.
Comfort was charged in Pennsylvania and committed to the Snyder County Jail in lieu of $1,000,000.00 bail, pending a hearing.
Comfort was charged in Pennsylvania with kidnapping, criminal contempt, possession of drugs with
intent to deliver, and fugitive from justice. Criminal charges in Wyoming County, NY for
Comfort are pending his return from PA.
On the same date of the Pennsylvania search warrant, the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office located
Marie Vinci on Battin Road in the Town of Gainesville where she was taken into custody.
Vinci was arrested and charged with custodial interference in the first degree, a class E felony, and
hindering prosecution in the third degree. Vinci was arraigned in Warsaw Town Court where
she was released in compliance with New York State Bail Reform. An order of protection was
also issued to protect the recovered juvenile from Vinci.
The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank Shamokin Dam Police Department,
along with all other contributing agencies, for their partnership in returning this juvenile to
safety. The investigation remains ongoing, and further charges are pending.