Man wrongfully accused in Gouverneur murder no longer on probation

BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

CANTON — A Gouverneur man who was wrongfully accused of murder has had his probation supervision dropped.

Frederick A. Wing Jr., 22, is still formally facing a second-degree murder charge, but authorities say he is no longer believed to have killed Ronald Durham and the charge is likely to be dropped.

An investigation into the March 2 murder of William M. Freeman, 67, of Rossie, revealed evidence that led to Wing’s supervised release.

Adam Smith has been charged with Freeman’s murder and is likely to be charged soon in connection with Durham’s, according to authorities.

Durham’s body was found Feb. 11, and Wing was charged the next day. Wing was known to be an acquaintance of Durham.

During a press conference held on the afternoon of March 7, St. Lawrence County Sheriff Brooks Bigwarfe confirmed Smith was charged with Freeman’s homicide on March 2, saying Smith allegedly stabbed Freeman to death.

In the case of Wing, Pasqua said officials are unsure what role he may have specifically played in the murder, if any, but did say he has been seemingly honest and forthcoming with law enforcement during the course of their investigations.

Wing also appeared to have intimate knowledge of Durham’s murder on Feb. 11, leading law enforcement to make the initial arrest.

According to Pasqua, the arrest was “not made on a whim” and was only made after physical evidence at the scene gave law enforcement probable cause to arrest Wing.

It is unclear at this time what motivation Smith had for committing either crime, however authorities confirmed the victims and Smith did have connections and these were not random acts of violence.

Pasqua said the New York State Police will continue to investigate Smith’s connections to Durham’s homicide.

According to Pasqua, there are no other suspects in either investigation at this time.