February 9, 1978 -- Questioning Continues In Killings (Ski Wing Hollow)
As published in the Olean Times Herald:
At Ski Wing
Questing Continues in Killings
ALLEGANY - Awaiting reports on items sent to the New York State Police laboratories in Albany, investigators checking into the deaths of two employees of Ski Wing Hollow are continuing the slow, routine questioning of numerous persons. Ground which already may have been covered is recovered as possible new information is turned up.
Funeral services were conducted this morning for Stephen Bender, 29, and Michael Forness, 29, killed Sunday night by burglars who carried off a safe containing more than $15,000 from the ski resort chalet. Both men were shot three times apiece when they apparently surprised the burglars.
Their bodies were discovered an estimated three hours later when a young janitor reported for work. The two men had worked as ski slope groomers, working between 10 pm and 10 am.
Time cards show they had reported at the normal time on Sunday. Time of deaths has been set about midnight, normal time at which the janitor had been slated to report. However, the young man said he had fallen asleep while watching television and did not awaken until later.
Police say this fact may have saved his life, since he too probably would have walked in on the burglary. They said Bender and Forness probably would not have been in the chalet at the time except for the fact one of the grooming machines they were operating had broken down.
Among items sent to the police lab were bullets taken from the bodies, believed to have come from a 38 caliber pistol, and Wing business office door which bore chisel marks where it had been pried open.
No trace has been found of the 200-to 300-pound safe which was chiseled from its concrete reinforced casing set in a closet floor in the manager's office.
In addition to investigating items directly taken from the scene, members of the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation are checking other police records, questioning known burglars and checking out phone calls which are being received at the SP substation at Allegany. Anyone having any possible information is requested to call 373-2550, with calls kept in confidence.
At Ski Wing
Questing Continues in Killings
ALLEGANY - Awaiting reports on items sent to the New York State Police laboratories in Albany, investigators checking into the deaths of two employees of Ski Wing Hollow are continuing the slow, routine questioning of numerous persons. Ground which already may have been covered is recovered as possible new information is turned up.
Funeral services were conducted this morning for Stephen Bender, 29, and Michael Forness, 29, killed Sunday night by burglars who carried off a safe containing more than $15,000 from the ski resort chalet. Both men were shot three times apiece when they apparently surprised the burglars.
Their bodies were discovered an estimated three hours later when a young janitor reported for work. The two men had worked as ski slope groomers, working between 10 pm and 10 am.
Time cards show they had reported at the normal time on Sunday. Time of deaths has been set about midnight, normal time at which the janitor had been slated to report. However, the young man said he had fallen asleep while watching television and did not awaken until later.
Police say this fact may have saved his life, since he too probably would have walked in on the burglary. They said Bender and Forness probably would not have been in the chalet at the time except for the fact one of the grooming machines they were operating had broken down.
Among items sent to the police lab were bullets taken from the bodies, believed to have come from a 38 caliber pistol, and Wing business office door which bore chisel marks where it had been pried open.
No trace has been found of the 200-to 300-pound safe which was chiseled from its concrete reinforced casing set in a closet floor in the manager's office.
In addition to investigating items directly taken from the scene, members of the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation are checking other police records, questioning known burglars and checking out phone calls which are being received at the SP substation at Allegany. Anyone having any possible information is requested to call 373-2550, with calls kept in confidence.
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