Shocking: Amherst Woman Sentenced to 18 Years for Newborn Murder!
An Amherst woman, Andee R. Wright, was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison for the second-degree murder of her newborn son, which occurred in October 2020.
The tragic incident unfolded when Wright gave birth to a full-term, 37-week-old baby boy in the bathroom of a home in the Town of Tonawanda, New York.
After the birth, she failed to seek medical assistance for either herself or the infant. Hours later, Wright was found in medical distress by her boyfriend, who called 911. Upon further investigation, paramedics discovered the deceased newborn in a garbage can in the basement.
The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the baby had been born alive and died due to blunt force trauma to the head. Wright was arrested and charged with murder, and after a six-day trial in June 2024, a jury convicted her of second-degree murder.
According to Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane, the evidence demonstrated that Wright had intentionally killed her child, making it a particularly disturbing case.
The case attracted significant attention due to the concealed nature of the pregnancy and the brutal outcome. Wright’s sentence reflects the severity of her crime, with the possibility of parole after 18 years, though she could spend the rest of her life in prison
Acting Erie County Court Judge Andrew C. LoTempio presided over the case, and the prosecution was led by Assistant District Attorney Rebecca L. Schnirel and Chief Ashley M. Morgan of the Homicide and Felony Trials Bureaus, respectively.