{"id":69222,"date":"2025-10-21T11:04:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T15:04:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=69222"},"modified":"2025-10-21T11:04:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T15:04:41","slug":"wyoming-county-bellaire-found-guilty-of-murder-following-7-day-jury-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/10\/21\/wyoming-county-bellaire-found-guilty-of-murder-following-7-day-jury-trial\/","title":{"rendered":"WYOMING COUNTY\/Bellaire found guilty of murder following 7-day jury trial"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Information from a provided press release)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bellaire faces a sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on January 9, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen the defendant appears for sentencing, we will be recommending that the defendant be sentenced to the maximum sentence allowed by law. The defendant\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would like to particularly thank the efforts of Chief Hoffmeister of the Warsaw Police Department, the Wyoming County Sheriff\u2019s Office, the Monroe County Medical Examiner\u2019s Office, and the New York State Police Lab in Albany for their thorough investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(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 \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":69223,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1,16],"tags":[4168],"class_list":["post-69222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-wyoming-county","tag-michael-h-bellaire"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-i0u","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":71343,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/01\/09\/wyoming-warsaw-man-sentenced-to-25-years-to-life-in-prison-in-the-murder-of-53-year-old-cheryl-cook\/","url_meta":{"origin":69222,"position":0},"title":"WYOMING COUNTY\/Warsaw man sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in the murder of 53-year-old Cheryl Cook","author":"aka","date":"January 9, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"(Information from a provided press release) On January 9th, 2026, Michael H. Bellaire, 43, of Warsaw, NY, appeared for sentencing before the Honorable Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini after being convicted of Murder 2nd degree. Strangulation 1st degree, and Grand Larceny 4th degree. After hearing statements from the victim\u2019s family members, Judge\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Warsaw"","block_context":{"text":"Warsaw","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/warsaw\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bellaire.jpg?fit=704%2C1056&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bellaire.jpg?fit=704%2C1056&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bellaire.jpg?fit=704%2C1056&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bellaire.jpg?fit=704%2C1056&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50929,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/02\/23\/wyoming-county-man-wanted-in-murder-of-warsaw-woman-last-seen-crossing-the-border-into-mexico\/","url_meta":{"origin":69222,"position":1},"title":"WYOMING COUNTY\/Man wanted in murder of Warsaw woman, last seen crossing the border into Mexico","author":"aka","date":"February 23, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release On November 7, 2023, the Warsaw Police Department were called for a \u201cwelfare check\u201d on CHERYL COOK, a 53-year-old female. Upon entry into the residence, the Warsaw Police Department located CHERYL COOK deceased in the residence. A preliminary autopsy indicated the cause of death was strangulation. At the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Warsaw"","block_context":{"text":"Warsaw","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/warsaw\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/MICHAEL-H-BELLAIRE.jpg?fit=704%2C1056&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/MICHAEL-H-BELLAIRE.jpg?fit=704%2C1056&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/MICHAEL-H-BELLAIRE.jpg?fit=704%2C1056&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/MICHAEL-H-BELLAIRE.jpg?fit=704%2C1056&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34859,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2022\/08\/04\/perry-police-report-pair-from-warsaw-charged-after-traffic-stop\/","url_meta":{"origin":69222,"position":2},"title":"PERRY POLICE REPORT\/Pair from Warsaw charged after traffic stop","author":"aka","date":"August 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Provided information Perry, NY - Chief Michael J. Grover reports the arrests of Sherene Bellaire and Shane Vasile, no age provided, both of Warsaw, NY. On July 29 ,2022, the Perry Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the Village of Perry for vehicle and traffic law\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Perry"","block_context":{"text":"Perry","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/perry\/perry-perry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Perry-PD.jpg?fit=320%2C320&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":41860,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2023\/04\/27\/wyoming-county-sheriffs-report-drug-task-force-arrests\/","url_meta":{"origin":69222,"position":3},"title":"WYOMING COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT\/Drug Task Force arrests","author":"aka","date":"April 27, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Wyoming County Drug Task Force made several arrests on April 25th, 2023, stemming fromdrug sales over the past four months in Wyoming County. Alan T. Hartman Sr.,57, of Lamont Road, Gainesville, NY, is charged with criminal saleof a controlled substance in the 3rd degree, criminal possession of a controlled\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Wyoming County"","block_context":{"text":"Wyoming County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/wyoming-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":59438,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/12\/08\/wyoming-county-court-report-november-1st-december-5th\/","url_meta":{"origin":69222,"position":4},"title":"WYOMING COUNTY COURT REPORT\/November 1st-December 5th","author":"aka","date":"December 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Sheldon Kenyatta Chapman-Huntley Hearing Held; decision reserved; Adjourned to 12\/2\/24. Arcade Kenneth Holland-Appearance; Pleaded guilty to Identity Theft in the Third Degree (misdemeanor); sentenced to a 1-year Conditional Discharge, 200 hours of community service, fine, surcharge, DNA fee. OrangevilleSteven Soto-Appearance; Adjourned to 11\/22\/24 for Huntley Hearing. Warsaw\/Wethersfield Chelsie Pierson-Sentenced on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Wyoming County"","block_context":{"text":"Wyoming County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/wyoming-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/WYOMING-COUNTY-seal.gif?fit=215%2C216&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":64808,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/05\/22\/wyoming-county-former-covington-resident-found-guilty-of-rape-in-three-day-jury-trial\/","url_meta":{"origin":69222,"position":5},"title":"WYOMING COUNTY\/Former Covington resident found guilty of rape in three-day jury trial","author":"aka","date":"May 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"(Information from a provided press release) On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Justin Tilton, a 39-year-old former resident of Covington, NY, was found guilty following a three-day jury trial before the Honorable Donald G. O\u2019Geen. Tilton was found guilty of Rape 1st degree, a Class \u201cB\u201d violent felony. Tilton was convicted\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Covington"","block_context":{"text":"Covington","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/covington\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/JUSTIN-L-TILTON-AGE-39.jpg?fit=704%2C1056&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/JUSTIN-L-TILTON-AGE-39.jpg?fit=704%2C1056&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/JUSTIN-L-TILTON-AGE-39.jpg?fit=704%2C1056&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/JUSTIN-L-TILTON-AGE-39.jpg?fit=704%2C1056&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bellaire.jpg?fit=704%2C1056&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69222","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69222"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69222\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69226,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69222\/revisions\/69226"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69223"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}