February 11, 1978 - Ski Wing Hollow Murders (Alleghany, NY)

As published in the Salamanca Press: 

Ski Wing homicide investigation:

Drug, burglary arrests stem from murder probe.

ALLEGHANY - State police continuing their "intense investigation" into the brutal murder Monday of two employees at the Ski Wing Hollow resort have made two arrests, but cautioned that the two charged are "not yet connected" with the double homicide.

Troopers said that the arrests were made as the result of their investigation and over 100 interviews being conducted in effort to solve the murder of Stephen Bender, 30, of Olean and Michael Forness, 29, of Cuba.

The combined investigation by New York State Police and the Olean Police Department resulted in the arrest of the two subjects on drug and burglary charges.

Cattaraugus County District Attorney Michael Nevins, working closely with state and local police, prepared a search warrant which was signed by Cattaraugus County Judge James Crowley and authorized the search of the premises at 110 Genesee St., Olean.

Arrested as a result of the execution of the search warrant were Robert Louis Stephens, alias "Chink", age 25, of 110 Genesee St. He was charged with criminal possession of marijuana second degree, a class D felony. Also arrested was a "potential youthful offender" who was charged with criminal possession of marijuana, second degree, and three counts of burglary third degree related to entries in the Allegany and Olean areas. Police said that the burglaries would be further identified later.

They did say however that the burglaries included one at Wing Hollow which occurred in January if this year, although it was not the one at which the two murders were committed.

Several pounds of marijuana as well as proceeds from the burglary were recovered. The street value of the marijuana is $40 per ounce, according to State Police.

Both subjects were arraigned before Allegany Town Justice Ronald Lemon and both were remanded to the Cattaraugus County Jail in Little Valley. Bail for Stevens was set at $2,000 and for the youth bail was set at $17,000.

The search detail was led by Captain H F Williams  and Lt Arthur Filjones of the Olean Police Department. Nevins was also present at the scene when the search warrant was executed.

Police said that the investigation into the Wing Hollow murders and related crimes is continuing.

 Taken from the ski resort following the Monday murder was a 200 to 300 pound safe with $15,000 to $20,000 in US and Canadian currency as well as checks.



*******The murderers still haven't been found, almost 40 years later. :-(*********

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