A man described by authorities as a double-predicate felon pleaded not guilty Monday to a murder charge in Ontario County, as investigators continue to piece together what led to the death of a Farmington man inside a Geneva motel room.
Emmanuel Richelieu, 37, had been reported missing around 11 p.m. April 17 after family members said they had not heard from him in two days. That report triggered a search that ultimately led investigators to the America’s Best Value Inn along Routes 5 and 20 in the Town of Geneva.
According to the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, Richelieu’s brother used a phone tracking app that showed the device at the motel property. Deputies responded early Saturday and located the phone on-site, but Richelieu was not with it, raising immediate concern.
Authorities launched a coordinated search throughout the day Saturday using deputies, drones, and a bloodhound. K-9 Schaefer eventually alerted investigators to Room 118. After knocking and receiving no response, deputies entered the room out of concern for Richelieu’s safety and discovered him alone inside, deceased.
Investigators exited the room to secure a search warrant before re-entering and formally identifying the victim as Richelieu.
Officials said Richelieu suffered multiple traumatic injuries, prompting investigators to treat the case as a suspicious death from the outset. His body was transported to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy is pending.
Investigators determined the motel room was registered to Julius Ware IV, 29, who was initially identified as a person of interest. Authorities said they were unable to locate him in the hours following the discovery and asked the public for help.
Additional details emerged as the investigation unfolded. Officials confirmed Ware had been released from state prison on April 9 and was under parole supervision following a sentence for robbery. Sheriff David Cirencione said Ware had been placed at the motel through parole as part of temporary housing assistance provided to individuals recently released from prison.
By Sunday afternoon, Ware was located at a residence in the City of Geneva and taken into custody without incident.
Following what officials described as an “exhaustive investigation” involving the sheriff’s office, Geneva Police Department, New York State Police, parole officers, and the Ontario County District Attorney’s Office, Ware was formally charged with second-degree murder. Investigators allege he intentionally caused Richelieu’s death and that a weapon was involved.
Cirencione said the injuries sustained were not consistent with a physical altercation alone, describing them as traumatic and indicating the involvement of something beyond direct human contact.
Ware was arraigned Monday in Ontario County Court, where he entered a not guilty plea and was ordered held without bail at the Ontario County Jail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled later this week.
Officials noted that Ware had been incarcerated since 2018 prior to his recent release and had limited local connections, which investigators said may have contributed to his inability to leave the area after the incident.
In a statement, Richelieu’s family remembered him as someone who brought joy to others and was deeply loved by those around him, while calling for justice and seeking support to return his body to Florida.
Authorities continue to ask anyone with information about the case to contact law enforcement as the investigation remains active.
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