WYOMING COUNTY/Bellaire found guilty of murder following 7-day jury trial

(Information from a provided press release)

On Monday, October 20, 2025, Michael H. Bellaire, 43, of Warsaw, New York was found guilty following a seven-day Jury Trial before the Honorable Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini of the following charges, Murder 2nd degree, Strangulation 1st degree and Grand Larceny 4th degree.

Bellaire faces a sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on January 9, 2026.

The evidence showed that Bellaire murdered Cheryl Cook inside her residence in Warsaw on November 2, 2023, by strangling her. Following the murder, Bellaire stole Cook’s debit card and fled to Mexico. On November 7, 2023, Warsaw Police Chief Pete Hoffmeister conducted a welfare check on Cheryl Cook on behalf of her family. Bellaire was apprehended by Mexican authorities almost a year later and brought back to Wyoming County.

“When the defendant appears for sentencing, we will be recommending that the defendant be sentenced to the maximum sentence allowed by law. The defendant’s actions took the life of a mother, daughter, sister, and a member of our community. My sympathies go out to the family of Cheryl Cook for their loss,” District Attorney Vincent A. Hemming said.

“I would like to particularly thank the efforts of Chief Hoffmeister of the Warsaw Police Department, the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the New York State Police Lab in Albany for their thorough investigation.”

The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Vincent A. Hemming and Assistant District Attorney Gabrielle Linsey. Attorneys Nicholas Texido, Esq. and Tom Heubusch, Esq. represented the Defendant.