Cortland Police Department

Press ReleaseLieutenant David M Guerrera

607-758-8301
Friday May 8, 2015
On Friday May 8, 2015 at approximately 3:30 PM the Cortland Police Department
responded to 66 Lincoln Avenue for a medical emergency. The 911 call was placed by a
resident of the property who had just returned home. Upon arrival, officers discovered a
female lying inside the residence with severe injuries. The injures appeared to be blunt
force trauma, stab wounds, and lacerations. Medical personnel arrived on the scene
shortly after the police officers and pronounced the victim as deceased. The victim is a
sixteen year old female.
Cortland Police officers and detectives began to investigate the apparent homicide. The
New York State Police Forensic Crime Scene Unit was contacted to assist in processing the
crime scene. At about 4:21 PM Officers from the Cortland County Sheriff's Department
responded to an address on Curtis Road in Virgil, New York for a reported distraught
male. Detectives at 66 Lincoln Avenue were able to make a connection to the distraught
male in Virgil with the homicide victim. At about 4:40 PM the male was taken into
custody by the Cortland County Sheriff's Officers and transported to the Cortland City
Police Department to be interviewed.
At this time the investigation is continuing with the assistance of the New York State
Forensic Crime Scene Unit, the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Intelligence, the
Cortland County Sheriff's Department, the Cortland County District Attorney's Office,
and the Cortland County Coroner.
On May 8, 2015 at about 9:00 PM Michael S. Hammond II DOB December 26, 1991 of
2191 Curtis Road in Virgil, New York was charged for his involvement in this murder. Mr.
Hammond is an acquaintance of the victim and is the only person involved in the murder.
The identity of the victim is not being released at this time because all of her family has not
notified of her death.
Michael Hammond has been charged with:
Murder in the Second Degree
in violation of Penal Law Section 125.25 subdivision 1
Murder in the Second Degree
in violation of Penal Law Section 125.25 subdivision 3

a Class A-1 Felony

a Class A-1 Felony

Burglary in the First Degree

in violation of Penal Law Section 140.30 subdivision 1
a Class C Felony
Burglary in the First Degree
in violation of Penal Law Section 140.30 subdivision 2
a Class C Felony
Burglary in the First Degree
in violation of Penal Law Section 140.30 subdivision 3
a Class C Felony
5 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree
in violation of Penal Law Section 265. 01 Subdivision 2
Class A Misdemeanors
Mr. Hammond is being held at the Cortland Police Department. He will be arraigned in
Cortland City Court on May 9, 2015. This investigation is ongoing. Anyone having
information that may assist in the investigation is asked to contact Sergeant Michael
Strangeway 607-753-3001 X 0. Reference case number 2015-5867.