(WNY News Now) In two different criminal cases, a man from North Tonawanda has acknowledged responsibility for a fatal stabbing on Kenmore Avenue and financial theft from a former employer.
John A. Rudes, 29, entered a guilty plea to Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class B dangerous crime, before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan, according to Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane. In a separate theft case, Rudes also entered a guilty plea to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony.
The violent encounter on September 17, 2023, is the basis for the manslaughter charge. Rudes fatally stabbed Terry Jackson, 59, several times in the neck at an apartment complex on the 1000 block of Kenmore Avenue at around 3:46 a.m. At the scene, Jackson was declared deceased.
Rudes, who worked at Jackson’s landscaping company, was accused of stealing $3,763 in January 2023 by faking and depositing multiple checks from his employer’s checkbook. Rudes’ involvement was proven via surveillance footage. As part of his plea, he has committed to making full restitution.
Rudes faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in jail and is still being held without bail. His sentence is set for 9:30 a.m. on March 5, 2025.
Buffalo and Depew Police Department investigators were praised by District Attorney Keane for their work. Assistant District Attorneys Jordana C. Grosodonia, Rebecca L. Schnirel, Ryan A. Emmerling, and William Fitzgerald prosecuted the cases.
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