Two former inmates at the Auburn Correctional Facility have been indicted in the death of another ex-prisoner. Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann says 36-year-old Rupert Alberga and 32-year-old Ashton Bellamy are being charged with the 2017 death of 51-year-old Daniel Wingate.
Prosecutors say Alberga and Bellamy attacked Wingate, who was found gravely wounded in his cell by officers on July 9th, 2017. Wingate died five days later.
Two counts of murder have been filed against Alberga, while Bellamy is facing one count of manslaughter. Officials say Alberga was charged with murder because of a prior murder conviction, and that’s why his charge was upgraded.
Alberga and Bellamy both pleaded not guilty today during their arraignment in Cayuga County Court. The pair are due back in court in November. At the time of his death, Wingate was two months away from being released.
– Reporting by Joe Salzone, Correspondent for FingerLakes1.com
