DOCCS Officer Charged in Franklin County Death

CHATEAUGAY, NY – Jennifer Hathorn is dead, and an off-duty New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) officer is facing serious charges following a late-night crash in Franklin County. The incident, which occurred on State Route 11 on January 27, 2026, has triggered an investigation by the New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI).

According to authorities, the DOCCS officer lost control of his vehicle shortly before 11:20 p.m., sending it off the roadway. Hathorn, a passenger in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. No other vehicles were involved in the single-vehicle incident, raising immediate questions about the circumstances surrounding the crash.

New York State Police (NYSP) responded and quickly zeroed in on the driver. The off-duty officer was arrested and charged with Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a class D felony) and two counts of misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). The charges suggest impairment played a role in the fatal crash.

The officer was arraigned in Malone Town Court on January 28, 2026, and released on his own recognizance. He’s due back in court on April 28, 2026. The OSI was notified after the arraignment, initiating their independent review of the incident, as mandated by New York State Executive Law Section 70-b. This law requires OSI to assess any death potentially caused by a law enforcement officer, on or off duty.

The Attorney General’s OSI will determine if the officer’s actions – or inaction – contributed to Hathorn’s death. The investigation will cover all aspects of the incident, regardless of whether the officer was on duty, the victim was armed, or if any custody situation was involved. This is standard procedure for OSI, ensuring a thorough and unbiased examination of any potential police-involved death.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case closely. These are preliminary facts and remain subject to change as the OSI investigation unfolds. The families of both the victim and the accused officer are undoubtedly grappling with the fallout from this tragedy, and the pursuit of justice will be critical in bringing some measure of closure.

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