A 53-year-old woman is in custody, suspected of fatally strangling her sister Penny Busch, 62, who had been missing since early October. Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter addressed the case during a news conference, providing details about the investigation that led to the arrest.
On October 11, officers conducted a welfare check on Penny Busch after a family member expressed concern about not hearing from her for some time. When no one answered the door to his home, investigators began searching the property. Sheriff Baxter stated that they found “suspicious” conditions and noticed “things out of the ordinary,” although he did not elaborate.
Three days later, on October 14, officers searched the Genesee River in the town of Rush, where they discovered a deceased woman. The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed that the body belonged to Penny Busch.
According to a redacted complaint obtained by WHEC-TVInvestigators believe that on October 8, Penny Busch’s sister, Jamie Busch, fatally strangled her during a physical altercation. The complaint further alleges that the next morning, Jamie Busch took his sister’s three cell phones from her home and threw them into a Dunkin’ Donuts. He then allegedly disposed of Penny Busch’s body in the Genesee River.
Authorities have charged Jamie Busch with second-degree murder and two counts of tampering with physical evidence in connection with his sister’s death. In addition to the legal process, it was revealed that Jamie Busch had worked for the Honeoye Falls-Lima School District, but has since been placed on leave.
The district superintendent issued a statement expressing shock and sadness over the incident: “The recent arrest of a district employee on serious charges has deeply impacted us all. We are shocked and saddened by the reports.
“As a school district that prioritizes the safety of our students, staff and community, we placed the individual on leave and fully cooperated with authorities during their investigation.” Penny Busch leaves behind two children and the investigation into her tragic death continues.
