Police Release Identity Of Woman Found Shot To Death In Her Orange County Home

SOUTH BLOOMING GROVE, NY — The New York State Police say they have arrested a 44-year-old South Blooming Grove man in a homicide investigation.

On Wednesday, around 4:41 p.m., troopers from Monroe responded to a home on Heights Trail, in the Village of South Blooming Grove, after receiving a report of an unconscious woman with a gunshot wound.

Once at the scene, troopers found a woman with a gunshot wound and apparent trauma. Life-saving measures were administered, and the victim was taken to Garnet Health Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.

Police identified the victim as 45-year-old Tanzanica Dickerson.

Members of the New York State Police's Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Forensic Investigation Unit, and the Major Crimes Unit arrived at the scene. Their initial investigation determined that Joseph Pennyfeather and Dickerson lived together and were involved in a argument that turned physical.

After conducting an autopsy, the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound, and found evidence of blunt force trauma. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Pennyfeather was taken into custody at the scene and then arraigned in the City of Middletown Court on charges of second-degree murder, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail.

Pennyfeather is scheduled to appear in the Town of Blooming Grove Court on December 29.

State police say that the investigation is ongoing, and ask that anyone with information about the incident contact the New York State Police at SP Monroe at (845) 344-5300.