Police in the Adirondacks are looking for a man they say stabbed his girlfriend over the weekend and fled.
Anthony Bechand, aged 53, was last seen on Sunday in Brighton, New York. His vehicle was found later that same day, seemingly abandoned for a significant amount of time, at the crossroads of County Route 60 and State Route 86, according to a report from the Times-Union.
Amanda Rodriguez, 41, was discovered deceased on Sunday morning in her Cohoes residence, which she shared with Bechand, who works in landscaping. Police stated that Rodriguez’s mother, unable to contact her daughter, dispatched a friend to check on her, as noted by WDRB. The friend subsequently found Rodriguez’s body.
Officials believe the killing occurred on Saturday and have initiated a search for the suspected perpetrator. Bechand’s truck was reportedly spotted at their home during that period. Authorities began soliciting public assistance on Tuesday, seeking any information.
The search effort is being supported by New York State Forest Rangers and U.S. Border Patrol, concentrating in Franklin County, near the location of the truck’s discovery, approximately 50 miles from the Canadian border.
Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler, speaking to the Times Union, mentioned, “Uniformed patrols are sweeping the region, and investigators from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation are actively interviewing people and scouring the area in unmarked vehicles. A comprehensive effort is underway, but there have been no sightings yet.”
Rodriguez bought the Cohoes home where the couple lived in 2015, Keeler said, according to WDRB. There had been no prior calls for service there.
Bechand is approximately 6 feet tall and weighs around 180 pounds, with brown hair. The police caution that he may be armed and dangerous, advising anyone who spots him to keep their distance and immediately contact law enforcement.
