Murder: Man Admits He Used Hammer to Kill Binghamton Resident

A Binghamton man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the death of a person in the city's First Ward.

According to the Broome County district attorney's office, Austin Whitney admitted he killed 60-year-old Anthony Cebula after a dispute at 1 Chelsea Square.

Cebula's body was found in a second-floor bedroom of his apartment by a relative on the evening of January 4.

Chelsea Square in Binghamton on January 6, 2021. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The 30-year-old Whitney said he struck Cebula repeatedly in the head with a hammer.

Whitney was taken into custody in Vestal a few days after the killing.

In addition to murder, Whitney also had been charged with arson because investigators believed he had tried to set a fire in the room where Cebula's body was located.

Whitney faces a sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison in connection with the killing. Sentencing has been scheduled for March 10.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com.

For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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Filed Under: Binghamton, Broome County Court, First Ward, murder

Categories: Articles, Crime, Local News