By Associated Press
Buffalo, NY – The suspect in the disappearance and deaths of two elderly southern Erie County women pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of second-degree murder and evidence tampering.
Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark says 42-year-old Robert Henchen of Colden was arraigned on a grand jury indictment in state Supreme Court in Buffalo.
Henchen is accused of beating and strangling 87-year-old Geraldine Jackson of Colden and 69-year-old Nancy Phelps of Marilla over the winter. Both women were missing for several months until their bodies were found in sealed barrels in a Colden storage barn in April.
Henchen has been in custody on parole violations and also faces burglary charges in an Orchard Park home invasion.
He's being held without bail.