BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A man is wanted for murder and multiple other charges after a homicide investigation in Wyoming County.
According to the Wyoming County District Attorney's Office, 41-year-old Michael Bellaire faces the following charges:
- Second-degree murder
- First-degree strangulation
- Two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny
- Tampering with physical evidence
The district attorney's office said on November 7, 2023, Warsaw police responded to a residence for a welfare check on 53-year-old Cheryl Cook and she was found dead in the residence. A preliminary autopsy indicated the cause of death was strangulation.
According to the district attorney's office, Bellaire was living with Cook at the time of her death, and law enforcement across the U.S. has allegedly been trying to locate him since the start of the investigation.
The Wyoming County Sheriff's Office said it has been assisting in the investigation and Bellaire's last known location was allegedly traveling into Mexico at the San Ysidro Border Crossing south of San Diego, California.
The sheriff's office posted the following photos on its Facebook page.
Police obtained an arrest warrant for Bellaire on February 12.
The district attorney's office said the grand larceny charges Bellaire faces are connected to the alleged theft of Cook's vehicle and credit cards.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Chief Pete Hoffmeister at the Warsaw Police Department at 585-786-2000.
