BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

CANTON – St. Lawrence County Court Judge Greg Storie has recused himself from the Michael Snow murder trial.

Now, Franklin County Judge Craig P. Carriero will preside over the case.

The trial was originally scheduled to begin Jan. 23.

In court documents obtained by North Country This Week, Storie said “counsel has questioned my impartiality in this matter.”

According to the documents, Storie had the option to decline to disclose his reasoning for recusal but chose to not exercise the right. However, his office did not wish to provide further comment on the matter.

Representing Snow is Chief Public Defender James McGahan who also declined comment.

St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua said that both he and the public defender shared the concerns, but would not elaborate further due to the upcoming trial and the case being an ongoing matter.

Pasqua said that things were progressing and it’s possible that a trial could begin as early as March.

Snow stands accused of murdering SUNY Potsdam student Elizabeth Howell, 21, on Feb. 18, 2022.

Howell, a student who was from Patterson, NY, was found on College Park Road near SUNY Potsdam with multiple gunshot wounds shortly before 6 p.m last February.

Witnesses say the shots came from a gray sedan that was passing by, presumed to be driven by Snow, according to previous reports.

That vehicle was later identified as a Honda Civic with NY registration KVE2731.

Potsdam police attempted life-saving measures on scene before Potsdam EMS arrived to continue. Howell was transported to Canton-Potsdam Hospital where she was pronounced dead around 7 p.m., according to previous reports.

College officials issued a “shelter in place until further notice” alert at 7:52 p.m. which remained in effect until later that evening.

State police, with support from Massena police and Homeland Security Investigations, served a warrant and entered Snow’s home with a door ram and flash bangs before taking him into custody without further incident on Feb. 19.

Snow was held without bail at St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility before being moved to an undisclosed, secure location for his safety, police previously said.

Police soon began searching for the murder weapon, backtracking a route they believe Snow took following Howell’s murder.

“The investigation has determined that the vehicle passed through Potsdam, Hopkinton, Malone, Westville, Hogansburg and Massena between 5 p.m and 8:30 p.m. on February 18. Anyone who may have seen Snow and the vehicle during these times is asked to contact the New York State Police Troop B Communications at (518) 873-2750,” police said at the time.

To date the murder weapon has still not been found.

Following Snow’s arrest a grand jury chose to indict him on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault, and first-degree criminal use of a firearm.

Snow was then arraigned in St. Lawrence County Court on April 22, 2022. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. He faces life in prison if found guilty.

Snow was held without bail following the arraignment after District Attorney Gary Pasqua cited the "random act of violence," as well as the use of a firearm as two primary concerns for remanding Snow.

Storie opted to remand Snow without bail, despite recent bail reform laws that have loosened restrictions for remanding suspects to jail. Pasqua had said there were "numerous considerations that supersede the bail reforms" set forth by New York State.