MONTICELLO, NY — District Attorney Meagan Galligan announced that Chasity Cutway, 38, and David Host, 33, of Walden, both pled guilty to Murder in the First Degree for the homicides of two men in Swan Lake last year. New York State Police responded to Murphy Road in the Town of Bethel at about 11:20 p.m. on January 13, 2021, and discovered Derek and Glenn Travis deceased. Following a joint investigation by the NY State Police and DA’s office, Cutway and Host were arrested the next day. Pre-trial hearings on the case concluded in December. Cutway’s trial was scheduled to commence on April 25, and Host’s on May 2.

On February 8, Cutway appeared before Sullivan County Court Judge Jim Farrell and pled guilty to Murder in the First Degree. Host appeared before Farrell this morning, February 15, and pled guilty to Murder in the First Degree. During their allocutions, both admitted to illegally entering the victims’ home and fatally stabbing them.

“The acts of these defendants were horrific. I hope these convictions bring some measure of closure to the victims’ loved ones, who will join my recommendation at sentencing that both defendants be incarcerated for up to their entire lives. My partners in law enforcement and I will deploy all of our resources to investigate and hold accountable those who perpetrate acts of violence in our communities,” Galligan said. She thanked the New York State Police, including the members of its Liberty and Wurtsboro barracks and Forensic Identification and Major Crimes units for their dedication to this case, which she prosecuted together with assistant district attorney Lisa Bondarenka.

A criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.