Monday, June 17, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
CANTON -- The preliminary hearing for an Ogdensburg man charged with second-degree murder scheduled Tuesday in Gouverneur Town Court has been adjourned until July 22 in Canton Town Court.
St. …
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Staff Report
North Country This Week
CANTON -- The preliminary hearing for an Ogdensburg man charged with second-degree murder scheduled Tuesday in Gouverneur Town Court has been adjourned until July 22 in Canton Town Court.
St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua in an email said the matter was adjourned at the request of the defendant, John Free, 51.
The next scheduled appearance in the matter will take place July 22 in Canton Town Court.
Free is charged with the April 11 killing of John Barr, 58, a Rensselaer Falls man found dead more than one month later on May 16 in his home at 12 Heuvelton St., Rensselaer Falls, according to a press release from Pasqua's office.
Free is alleged to have struck Barr in the head with blunt objects, killing Barr, but further details on what the weapon was have not yet been released.
Pasqua said the Free and Barr were friends and knew each other well, but details on the alleged motive have not been shared.
Free was a former employee of the Academy at Ivy Ridge, a defunct school that was the center of the Netflix Documentary 'The Program' which shined a light on abuse that took place at the academy between 2001 and 2009.
In the wake of the documentary's release St. Lawrence County Sheriff's and District Attorney's offices launched an investigation into allegations made by survivors of the school which is ongoing.
It's unknown if Free himself was part of that investigation.
Free appeared in at least two interviews that aired after he is believed to have killed Barr, but before he was arrested, in which he discussed his actions and time at Ivy Ridge. Free also discussed accusations made against him of sexual abuse which he has publicly denied.
In the interviews Free said that he worked with local children as a coach and referee.
Free formerly worked at the Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club and as a coach at Gouverneur School as well as a Section X referee.
Free was arraigned May 22 in Gouverneur Town Court and remanded to St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility without bail, where he remains held.
State Police Troops B and D were assisted by the St. Lawrence County District Attorney's Office and St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office during the investigation.
