The Erie County Sheriff’s Office announced that an Elma man had been charged with murder for fatally shooting his girlfriend with a crossbow. Sheriff John Garcia reports the arrest of 61-year-old Frank J. Litterio following an investigation into an incident that occurred in the Town of Elma.

Patrol deputies responded to a residence in the 1800 block of West Blood Road around 5 PM on December 13, 2023. Upon arrival, deputies found a 62-year-old female victim deceased inside the residence. Literrio was transported to the Erie County Medical Center with suspected self-inflicted wounds, according to authorities.

Authorities accused Literrio of intentionally causing the death of his girlfriend by shooting her with a crossbow inside the living room of their home. He has been charged with one count of Murder in the Second Degree. Litterio was arraigned by State Supreme Court Justice William Boller while hospitalized in a secure unit at ECMC.

He is being held without bail. If convicted, Litterio will face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.