Case dismissed against hunter charged in death of woman walking dog

The manslaughter case against a Chautauqua County man charged with shooting and killing a woman walking her dog has been thrown out on a technicality.

Thomas Jadlowski, 34, was set to stand trial August 7th in the death of Rosemary Billquist. She was killed the day before Thanksgiving just after sundown in a field behind her home in Mayville. Jadlowski told prosecutors he mistook her for a deer. 

Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson tells 7 Eyewitness News Chautauqua County Judge David Foley granted an appeal by the defense to dismiss the charges because the grand jury was never instructed on a lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide. 

Swanson has the option of presenting the case to another grand jury or appealing the judge's ruling. He is inclined to choose the first option because it would be a much faster process toward justice, Swanson said. 

Jadlowski ran toward Billquist after hearing her scream that day and called 911. He later turned himself in and was indicted on charges of second-degree manslaughter and hunting after hours.

He remains free on bail.