Questions linger as suspect indicted in Norwich homicide awaits further court action
Nearly five months after a Norwich woman was found dead in her home, a suspect has been charged with murder, but some details of the case still have not been revealed.
In early July, Norwich police officers conducting a welfare check and missing person complaint discovered the body of 44-year-old Alisa Ann Martin in her residence at 89 N. Broad St.
Following an investigation that also involved the FBI and a sheriff's office in North Carolina, a Chenango County grand jury this month indicted Chaquasja M. Veale, 28, of Norwich, on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with Martin's death.
Veale was already in custody at the Chenango County Jail on an unrelated charge, according to county District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese, and was arraigned in Chenango County Court after the indictment was unsealed.
Veale entered a plea of not guilty at that time.
The medical examiner classified Martin's death as a homicide and Ferrarese said she died by strangulation.
It isn't clear exactly what the relationship was between Martin and Veale, Ferrarese said.
"They were friendly. I can't say how close. They knew each other," he said. "He needed a place to stay. Alisa was kind enough to let him stay with her."
Martin was a graduate of Oxford Academy and Lock Haven University and earned a master's degree from Clarkson University, according to her obituary.
Ferrarese said he can't discuss a possible motive for the murder, adding that is among the facts of the case that won't be made public until a trial.
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Veale has close relatives in North Carolina and there were fears he would travel there after his release from jail in January on the unrelated charge, Ferrarese said.
Once his other sentence expires, Veale will remain in custody on the murder charge in lieu of $400,000 cash bail or $800,000 property bond, according to Ferrarese.
Veale and his assigned legal counsel are expected to be back in court for further proceedings in the second week of February.
Norwich Police Chief Reuben Roach said Veale's arrest was the result of cooperation among several agencies.
"I would like to thank the New York State Police, the Chenango County Sherriff’s Office, the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office, the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office located in North Carolina and the Federal Bureau of investigation for their assistance in this case," Roach said.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Suspect indicted on murder charge in July death of Norwich woman
