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Defendant Pleads Guilty in Chili’s Double Homicide
Syracuse, NY – In a disturbing turn of events, William D. Wood Jr., 35, of Syracuse, has entered a guilty plea to federal charges related to the September 2018 robbery and murders he committed at the Chili’s Grill and Bar in Dewitt, New York.
According to officials, Wood planned and carried out an armed robbery of the Chili’s in Dewitt, resulting in the deaths of two people. He admitted to holding four employees at gunpoint, obtaining cash from the safe, and shooting and killing Stephen Gudknecht and Kristopher Hicks.
Wood’s sentencing is scheduled for December 29, 2021, before Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy in Binghamton, New York. He faces maximum sentences of 20 years on the robbery conviction and life on each of the two firearms offenses.
Additionally, Wood was previously sentenced in Onondaga County Court to life without parole following his plea of guilty to related state crimes, including two counts of Murder in the First Degree. He will serve his state sentence first, and if ever released by New York State, he would be surrendered to federal custody to serve any undischarged portion of his federal term of imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the ATF, the Town of Dewitt Police Department, and the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa M. Fletcher and Michael D. Gadarian.
Wood’s guilty plea marks a significant development in the case, bringing closure to the families of the victims and the community affected by the tragedy.
The investigation and prosecution of Wood’s crimes were a collaborative effort between local and federal law enforcement agencies, highlighting the importance of interagency cooperation in combating violent crime.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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