BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Law enforcement officials believe they've solved a horrific murder in the Town of Tonawanda from August 2019.
Danielle Cretacci, who was staying at a home on Ebling Avenue, when she was murdered that August 27. According to the Erie County District Attorney, two people allegedly broke into Cretacci's home, took her and her two daughters out from the bedroom, and shot Cretacci in the back of the head in the living room.
The two gunmen charged with the murder are Ernest Green Jr. and Daniel Rodriguez, both of whom were remanded and face up to life in prison. Flynn said the two then turned their attention to the children, ages 8 and 11, were then shot twice in the torso. The two children survived and played dead until the shooters left and then alerted neighbors as to what happened.
"When the police arrived, the 8 year old was on the floor cuddled up next to her mother," Flynn said. "The mother was found in a pool of blood on the living room floor. The eight-year-old was responsible...Imagine that scene and that homicide that took place."
The alleged organizer of the murders is Sharee Bailey, who was also accused of Cretacci's murder but not indicted on the attempted murder charges of the two children.
The alleged organizer of the murders is Sharee Bailey, who was also accused of Cretacci's murder but not indicted on the attempted murder charges of the two children.
"I believe Sharee Bailey organized this crime and was involved in setting it up," Flynn said. "We believe allegedly they went there to rob Ms. Cretacci of her recent legal settlement money that she recently come into and, unfortunately, advertised amongst her friends and amongst social media."
A month later, there was a similar targeted killing involving someone who received settlement money in courts. Flynn said the September murders of Bethany Malloy and Shaquille St. John on Merrimack Street in Buffalo were also organized by Bailey. Malloy had recent won a settlement on a personal injury matter.
Green and Bailey were again involved in the killings, according to the DA. Wayne Robbins was also charged with the murder.
Flynn said the victims did not know each other, though Bailey was a mutual acquaintance.
"Sharee Bailey knew both Cretacci in Tonawanda and she knew Malloy in the Merrimack matter," Flynn said.
All of the defendants face, at most, life in prison.
