A 61-year-old man from Elma, New York, Frank J. Litterio, has been charged with second-degree murder following the fatal shooting of his 62-year-old girlfriend, Jill Harris, with a crossbow. The incident occurred on December 13, 2023, inside their shared home.
Erie County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home at around 5 p.m. on the day of the incident after receiving a 911 call requesting a welfare check. Upon arrival, they discovered Harris on the couch, deceased with wounds consistent with a crossbow. Litterio was found at the scene with what appeared to be self-inflicted injuries. According to Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn, the injuries sustained by Litterio were from a different weapon, not the crossbow.
An autopsy revealed that Harris had been struck three times by arrows from the crossbow, once in the abdomen, once in the face, and once in the chest.
Erie County Undersheriff Bill Cooley, speaking at a press conference, highlighted the deliberate and probably premeditated nature of the attack, noting the time and effort required to load and fire a crossbow.
Litterio and Harris lived together for about 15 years in Litterio’s West Blood Road home.
Litterio was arraigned on December 15, 2023, while being treated at the Erie County Medical Center for his injuries. These injuries included a cut to his neck, multiple puncture wounds to his chest, and injuries to one of his wrists. He was held without bail, pending a court hearing scheduled for January 29, 2024.
If convicted of the murder charge, Litterio faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police are investigating the case, with Chief Gary W. Hackbush of the Homicide Bureau heading the prosecution.
An autopsy confirmed that Harris had been shot with the arrows three times and had been dead for several hours, according to police.
The incident in Elma came months after another incident in upstate New York where a man was accused of killing his newborn baby and injuring his wife with a crossbow.
Litterio remains in custody without bail at the Erie County Medical Center. The upcoming court date in January will likely provide further details regarding the case and any potential defense Litterio might present. Litterio’s attorney, Herb Greenman, declined to comment on the case.
