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Olean Man pleads guilty in attempted murder of girlfriend

Gabriel Melkioty

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn has announced that 22-year-old Gabriel C. Melkioty of Olean pleaded guilty Wednesday before Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges to one count of second-degree attempted murder, a Class B violent felony. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest count in the indictment against him on the morning jury selection was scheduled to begin in his trial.

On March 31, 2021, at approximately 4 p.m., the defendant stabbed the female victim, with the intent to cause her death, multiple times with a pocket knife while inside of the victim’s residence in the town of Collins. The defendant also beat the victim and strangled her to the point of unconsciousness during the assault.

After the defendant left the home, the victim woke up and called 911. She was taken to ECMC where she received stitches for multiple stab wounds. The victim also suffered severe bruising and swelling to her face.

Melkioty faces a maximum of 25 year in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. He is currently held without bail pending sentence.

A temporary order of protection remains in effect on behalf of the victim.

DA Flynn commends Detective Emily Nelson-Gerken, Detective Matthew Fuqua, Detective Nicholas Coniglio, Detective Scott Kuhlmey and Deputy Eric Szkatulski of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gina M. Gramaglia of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Taylor A. Gillespie of the Felony Trials Bureau.

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