Grandson charged in 73-year-old woman's death
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Richard D'Andrea

Amherst police have charged 21-year-old Richard D'Andrea with the death of his 73-year-old grandmother, Vel Sedita.

Responding to a welfare check at her Kaymar Drive residence, police discovered the body of Ms. Sedita at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday. Capt. Timothy Green said family members had requested the welfare check after they were unable to contact her.

Police gained entry into the home and found the victim deceased. Initial reports state the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. An autopsy by a medical examiner was scheduled for Monday.

Green said that during the course of the evening, developing information led police investigators to arrest D'Andrea.

Police had responded to the residence in the past, including one complaint less than a week before Ms. Sedita's death.

"There was a history of him not getting along with his grandmother," Green said. "From what we have been able to tell, this Richard D'Andrea appeared to have lived there on and off."

He added that in the past weeks the suspect had been residing there.

On Sunday, D'Andrea was arraigned by Amherst Judge Geoff Klein. He was charged with one count of second-degree murder. According to the Amherst Police Department, additional charges are pending investigation.

"We believe (the crime) is possibly related to some dispute that had been ongoing that occurred between him and her," Green said.

According to Judge Klein's office a hearing at Amherst Town Court was scheduled for Wednesday. Due to the felony status of the case it was expected to be moved to Erie County Court in downtown Buffalo.