(WNY News Now) – An Erie County judge has sentenced Andee R. Wright of Amherst to 18 years to life for the murder of her newborn son, marking a tragic end to a case of concealed pregnancy and infant death.
Buffalo, N.Y. – Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced that 33-year-old Andee R. Wright received an 18-year-to-life sentence from Acting Erie County Court Judge Andrew C. LoTempio. Wright was convicted of second-degree murder after a six-day trial and found guilty of intentionally killing her newborn baby.
On October 5, 2020, Wright gave birth to a 37-week-old boy alone in a bathroom at a residence on Eggert Road in the Town of Tonawanda. Following the birth, Wright did not call for emergency assistance for herself or the baby. She was later discovered in medical distress by her boyfriend, who dialed 911. Wright was then taken to the hospital. During the investigation, a paramedic located the deceased infant in a basement garbage can.
The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the baby had been born alive and died from a severe brain injury resulting from blunt force and penetrating trauma. After a swift two-hour jury deliberation, Wright was convicted in June 2024 of one count of second-degree murder, a Class “A-I” felony.
“This is a disturbing case of a woman who concealed her pregnancy and killed her own newborn baby. While this was a challenging case, we were committed to obtaining justice in the death of Baby Boy Wright. The evidence showed that the baby was born alive, and the jury agreed that defendant intentionally murdered her own newborn son,” said Acting Erie County DA Mike Keane.
The Town of Tonawanda Police Department and paramedics were commended for their thorough work on this case, along with the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office. Assistant District Attorney Rebecca L. Schnirel and Chief Ashley M. Morgan prosecuted the case on behalf of the Homicide and Felony Trials Bureau, respectively.