Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Three men have been found guilty for their roles in two murders that took place just one month apart in the Town of Tonawanda and City of Buffalo back in 2019.
A jury has found Ernest Green, Jr., 41, of North Tonawanda and Daniel Rodriguez, 41, of North Tonawanda guilty of one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class "A-I" felony) and two counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (Class "B" violent felonies).
Jurors rendered their decision on Wednesday afternoon after six hours of deliberation following an 11-day trial.
During the early morning hours of Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019, the defendants, while acting in concert with one another, murdered the victim during the course of a home invasion robbery.
Green and Rodriguez unlawfully entered the victim's residence on Ebling Avenue in the Town of Tonawanda through a rear door. Once inside of the home, Green and Rodriguez intentionally shot the female victim and her two daughters.
The victim, 31-year-old Danielle Cretacci, died at the scene. The defendants stole an unknown sum of cash, which was from the victim's workers' compensation settlement.
The two juvenile victims, 8-years-old and 11-years-old at the time of the crime, were both shot. One surviving victim pretended to be dead then watched from a window as the suspects fled before going to a neighbor's home for help. Both victims were transported to Erie County Medical Center, where they were hospitalized for their injuries.
Green and Rodriguez face a maximum of 75 years-to-life in prison when they are sentenced before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller on Friday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m. ET. Both defendants remain held without bail.
A jury also found Green and another co-defendant, Wayne Robbins, 27, of Town of Tonawanda, guilty of two counts of Murder in the First Degree and four counts of Murder in the Second Degree (Class "A-I" felonies) on Wednesday.
During the early morning of Sept. 27, 2019, Green and Robbins, while acting in concert with one another, murdered two victims during the course of a robbery. Both victims were shot inside of a two-unit residence on Merrimac Street in the City of Buffalo. The defendants stole an unknown sum of cash.
A short time later, Buffalo Police officers responded to a 9-1-1 call at the residence where they found both victims, 21-year-old Bethany Malloy and 26-year-old Shaquiel St. John, deceased.
Green and Robbins each face a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole when they are sentenced before Justice Boller on Friday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Sharee Bailey, 31, of Buffalo pleaded guilty to one count of Robbery in the First Degree (Class "B" violent felony) for her role in these crimes.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this month in full satisfaction of the indictment against her. Bailey, who remains held without bail pending sentence, faces up to 25 years in prison.
A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.
"The families of these three victims have waited a long time for justice. These two separate homicide cases were brutal killings motivated by greed. I am pleased to announce that these defendants have been convicted and face the potential of life in prison," said Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane on Wednesday.
