Murder Charged in Death of Town of Tioga Woman

A day after Tioga County Sheriff's officials requested the public's help in piecing together information concerning the discovery of an Owego-area woman's body Sheriff Gary Howard is announcing an arrest for murder.

In a news release issued late in the afternoon Thursday, authorities announced they had arrested a neighbor in connection with the death of 62-year-old Laurie Hawthorne at 3:15 p.m. June 23.

40-year-old John R. Prentice, Jr. is charged with second degree murder.

The 5:14 p.m. news release goes on to say: " After his arrest, Prentice was brought to the Tioga County Jail Division to await C.A.P. Court arraignment."

The original news release from the Sheriff's office said Hawthorne's body was found inside a home at 184 Campbell Hill Road in the Town of Tioga between June 1 and Sunday, June 19.

Investigators say Prentice lives at 162-b Campbell Hill Road, Owego.

On June 19, The Tioga County Sheriff's office received a report of a female, deceased inside the house at 184 Campbell Hill Road.

Investigators determined the body was that of the resident of the home and that Hawthorn had sustained two gunshot wounds.

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The latest news release still does not specify when authorities believe the woman was shot and when she died.

Investigators also have not offered information concerning a possible motive or if Hawthorn and Prentice knew each other or if the killing was the result of a random act.

We will have more information as it is made available by the Tioga County Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the New York State Police Troop C Major Crimes, New York State Police Forensic Identification Unit, Tioga County District Attorney’s Office and Tioga County Coroner’s Office.