A Cortland man has been indicted on a homicide charge in connection with the death of his son in October. Two of the dead man’s brothers were also charged with endangering their brother’s welfare, city police said.
Brandon Storie, 33, was found dead Oct. 19 in his bedroom under circumstances that Cortland police called suspicious in a statement issued Thursday afternoon. His death was ruled a homicide after an autopsy.
David H. Storie, 60, his father, was charged with second-degree manslaughter and first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, felonies.
Michael S. Storie, 40, and Nicholas A. Storie, 31, were also charged with first first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person.
The case against David Storie was presented April 18 to a Cortland County grand jury, according to the police statement. Police Lt. Dan Edwards said Thursday that the indictment was handed up Wednesday and all three defendants were charged Thursday.
Edwards said family members contacted authorities after Brandon Storie died. An investigation led police to believe that the death was caused by neglect over an extended period of time.
“It was basically neglecting him and not providing proper care for him,” Edwards said.
Edwards said Brandon Storie had a disability, but did not provide details.
Jason Thornton was one of three family members who attended Thursday’s arraignment in City Court.
“I’m his brother,” Jason Thornton said afterward of Nicholas Storie. “I’m here to support him.”
Thornton, who said Michael Storie is his step-brother, explained that Brandon Storie was disabled and Nicholas and Michael Storie lived in the apartment but were not personally responsible for taking care of him.
Family members said Brandon Storie’s mother, Shirley Storie, had cared for him until her death in February 2022 and her husband, David Story, had difficulty providing for his care since then.
“Dave couldn’t do it all,” Thornton said.
Brandon Storie’s obituary with Wright-Beard Funeral Home said: “Brandon was a loving son, brother, and friend. He was intelligent and he loved working on computers and playing with RC cars. Brandon also enjoyed being with his family and being outside.”
David Storie was being held Thursday afternoon in Cortland County Jail with his next court appearance scheduled for Tuesday in Cortland County Court.
Michael and Nicholas Storie pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon at their arraignments in Cortland City Court.
Assistant District Attorneys Zachariah Zallo and Finney Raju requested bail be set in the case because the charge could be linked to the cause of Brandon Storie’s death. That link must be made for the case to be eligible for bail.
Defense attorneys Zela Brotherton, who represented Michael Storie, and Karen Leahy, who represented Nicholas Storie, argued there was no direct link between the charges and Brandon Storie’s death.
“I don’t see anything telling me what the decedent passed away from,” City Court Judge Elizabeth Burns said.
Burns released both defendants without bail and directed them to attend weekly appointments with the Cortland County Alternatives to Incarceration or face arrest.
Penal law states a people are guilty of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person in the first degree when they knowingly act in a manner likely to injure the physical, mental or moral welfare of a person who is unable to care for himself or herself because of physical disability, mental disease or defect. Endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person in the first degree is a class E felony. Second-degree manslaughter is when a person recklessly causes the death of another person, or intentionally aids in a person’s suicide.
