District Attorney Hoovler Announces Trial Conviction in Wallkill Murder for Hire Case
Enoch Lowe Convicted of Murder in the First Degree and Conspiracy in the Second Degree for Hiring Another Man to Kill his Neighbor
Defendant faces Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Thursday, May 16, 2024, Enoch Lowe, age 25, of Wallkill, was convicted after a jury trial in the Orange County Court of all charges against him, including the crimes of Murder in the First Degree, Tampering with Physical Evidence and Conspiracy in the Second Degree in connection with the death of his next-door neighbor, a Wallkill man who was found stabbed multiple times inside the detached garage of his residence. Lowe faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18, 2024. Lowe was remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail following the jury’s verdict.
As alleged at trial, Lowe hired Damante T. Stansberry, age 24, of Middletown, to kill Lowe’s neighbor, with whom Lowe had long-standing animosity. At the trial prosecutors argued that Lowe promised Stansberry $15,000 to commit the murder and acted as a lookout, informing Stansberry as to when the victim was alone, outside, and vulnerable to being attacked. On October 30, 2022, at approximately 5:00 PM, Stansberry arrived at the residence of his 53-year-old victim and repeatedly stabbed the man, who was repairing a fence in the backyard of the residence. Evidence at the trial established that Lowe sent text messages to Stansberry immediately before Stansberry left to commit the murder, and had spoken to Stansberry using a cellular telephone as soon as Stansberry returned from committing the Murder. On March 30, 2023, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler represented the People in County Court when Stansberry pled guilty to Murder in the Second Degree in connection with the death of the man. Stansberry is awaiting sentencing.
An investigation conducted by the Town of Wallkill Police Department, assisted by the New York State Police, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center, the United States Secret Service and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office resulted in Lowe’s arrest on October 10, 2023. The case was presented to an Orange County Grand Jury which charged Lowewith the crimes including Murder in the First Degree and Conspiracy in the Second Degree. It was alleged that Lowe agreed to pay Stansberry $15,000 to kill the man and acted as look-out, texting Stansberry to signal that the victim was outside of his home, alone, and vulnerable to an attack.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the Town of Wallkill Police Department, and all the law enforcement agencies involved in the arrest and investigation of Lowe and Stansberry.
“Despite this defendant’s best efforts to avoid responsibility for his heinous crimes, a jury of his peers has rightfully returned the only verdict consistent with the facts and law, that he is guilty,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “My condolences remain with the victim’s family and friends and I hope that this verdict can offer them a sense of closure. I commend the incredible work done by the Town of Wallkill Police Department, all the agencies that aided them, and the skilled prosecutors who saw the case through to the verdict that ensured justice was served.”
“We thank our partners in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, State Police, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI for their unwavering support during the investigation and subsequent prosecution of this horrific crime,” said Town of Wallkill Police Chief Robert Herman.
District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek and Assistant District Attorney Bryan Conway who prosecuted the case.
This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.