MONTICELLO, NY — A suspect has been named in the murder of Lorraine Gempler, who was killed on Monday night, September 23 in her house in Kenoza Lake on Swiss Hill North Road. Sullivan County District Attorney Jim Farrell and Sheriff Mike Schiff held a press conference on September 27. Toby Jay Smith is accused of killing Gempler, who was 83.

Farrell said Smith, 42, who lives just down the road from Gempler’s house, entered the home with the probable intention of stealing valuables. At about 7:30 p.m., Gempler came home while Smith was in her house. Farrell said Smith used a weapon against Gempler, but not a gun, and Gempler was seriously wounded.

Smith then left the home and immediately was confronted by two “good Samaritans” in the driveway. One of the two was injured in the struggle as the suspect fought them, but they were able to hold him down until a sheriff’s deputy arrived; he was able to get cuffs on Smith and get him into the back of the patrol car.

Gempler was taken by ambulance to Catskill Regional Medical Center, but later died of her injuries.

Smith was also injured in his struggle with the two good Samaritans and was in Orange  Regional Medical Center. He was arraigned while in the hospital on October 1, and then was he transferred to Sullivan County Jail.

At the news conference, Schiff expressed gratitude to the good Samaritans, and both Schiff and Farrell called them “heroes” but declined to identify them at this point. One of them was a friend and another was a neighbor. Schiff said not everyone would have the physical ability to do what they did, but he was grateful they took action in this case.

Smith has been charged with second-degree murder and related charges and could face 25 years to life, if convicted of the charges at trial.