Westchester Murder: Man Sentenced

A 22-year-old New Hampshire man was sentenced Wednesday to prison for his role in the murder and kidnapping of a man, whose decomposing body was discovered in North Salem in 2011, Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore said. 

Charles Blanchard, who pled guilty in January to two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree kidnapping, was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison on March 27. 

Police said Blanchard and three other accomplices were responsible for the death of 65-year-old Epifanio Medina. 

Police said two horseback riders discovered Medina's body on June 12, 2011. Medina was a Florida resident living in Passaic, NJ, at the time. He was known to carry large amounts of cash and wore flashy jewelry, according to the DA's Office. Officials said he was last seen exiting a Passaic liquor store on June 2, 2011 at 4 p.m.

Blanchard is the half brother of Jessica Ryan French, a 25-year-old Florida native who pled guilty in May 2012 to similar charges in connection to the murder. The woman is awaiting sentencing.

Police said they had two other accomplices are Travis Morin, 25 of New Hampshire and Patrick Smith, 25, of Florida. Morin and Smith are awaiting trial. Smith was French’s boyfriend at the time of the murder and father of her child, police said.

Investigators said family members reported Medina missing on June 5, 2011.

Hi son, Pete Medina, 36, of Union, NJ, said at the time, "There’s definitely foul play," according to North Jersey.com. His father was known in the neighborhood as "Tio," or uncle. He had six children and worked at a liquor store until he was laid off a few years ago, the son said. 

The New York State Police conducted "an extensive, wide ranging investigation," according to authorities. Investigators expanded their investigation both down to Florida and up to New Hampshire. 

According to an article in the Journal News, Medina was beaten, stabbed, robbed and left to die in the woods in North Salem. All four accomplices remain at the Westchester County Jail in Valhalla without bail, the paper reported. 

Assistant District Attorney Nadine Nagler of the Career Criminal Bureau is prosecuting  the cases.