Amanda Wienckowski
On the evening of December 5, 2008, Amanda Wienckowski was driven into a dangerous neighborhood on the East side of Buffalo, New York by a man named Adam Patterson. By 8:30PM, Patterson was back in the safety of his home, and Amanda was never seen again. Upon discovering her missing, her mother, Leslie Brill Meserole, reported Amanda missing to police on December 7. Amanda's body was discovered on January 9, 2009. She was frozen solid, naked, beaten and stuffed upside down in a garbage can.
One of the people who people believe is Amanda's killer, Antoine Garner, is currently serving 18 years for raping and strangling another woman.
The problem in solving this case is that the official medical examiner's report lists Amanda's death as an accidental opiate overdose – despite large finger-shaped bruises on her neck, the way her dead body was hidden for five weeks and eventually dumped in a garbage tote, and a lack of the main metabolite of heroin in Amanda's body.
Amanda's mother has diligently fighting for justice for Amanda through the media and courts since 2009. We have joined with her to right the egregious wrong done to her daughter. Rather than starting with the typical "who did it," we first need to place public pressure to overturn the initial medical examiner's report and correctly designate Amanda's death as a homicide.
Until then, even Buffalo Police are unable to investigate Amanda's case further or make any arrests. Help us right this wrong for Amanda and her family once and for all. Follow this case here and on YouTube.
Case Documents
Adam Patterson’s Deposition
Adam Patterson’s Deposition
Erie County Autopsy
Private Autopsy
Toxicology Report
Toxicology Report
Toxicology Report
Toxicology Interpretation
Toxicology Expert Option
Article 78 Lawsuit Asking Court to Force Action in Change of Cause of Death
Article 78 Verified Petition
Article 78 Verified Petition Exhibits
Notice of Petition
Petitioner’s Affidavit in Support of Petition
Request for Judicial Intervention
Affidavit of Service, Erie County
Affidavit of Service, ME’s Office
Letter from County Attorney to Justice Panepinto
Letter from John Ray to Justice Panepinto
Justice Panepinto Recusal
Notice of Motion to Dismiss
Attorney Affidavit in Support of Motion to Dismiss
No Fee Authorization
Petitioner’s Affidavit in Opposition
Petitioner’s Attorney’s Affidavit in Opposition
Petitioner’s Exhibits in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss
Affirmation of Service by Mail
News Clippings
Buffalo News
POLICE & COURTS
Niagara Gazette
BUFFALO: Body of Lewiston woman found
9 January 2009
Buffalo News
Lewiston woman's body found in garbage Police question man in case involving drugs, prostitution
10 January 2009
Buffalo News
Autopsy results awaited in 2 deaths
11 January 2009
Buffalo News
Vigil reflects love for woman, 20
12 January 2009
Niagara Gazette
BUFFALO: Autopsy awaited in Wienckowski case
12 January 2009
Niagara Gazette
BUFFALO: Police waiting for autopsy results
12 January 2009
Buffalo News
A fast path to a short life How one young woman's fling with heroin came to a tragic, terrible end on Buffalo's East Side
18 January 2009
Buffalo News
Mother stands by son in Wienckowski's death
20 January 2009
Buffalo News
No physical signs in E. Side death Police await autopsy and toxicology results
22 January 2009
Buffalo News
Slain woman's mom joins East Side anti-violence effort
25 January 2009
Buffalo News
Woman in tote died of drug overdose With no signs of
violence, death has been ruled accidental
18 February 2009
Buffalo News
Mother upset over finding of drug overdose
19 February 2009
Buffalo News
More testing under way on body found in tote
24 March 2009
Buffalo News
A tragedy that can't go unresolved
8 June 2009
Buffalo News
Police files sought in woman's death Parents' lawyer asks Niagara County judge to intervene in Buffalo case
19 September 2009
Buffalo News
Parents are on a crusade for the truth
27 September 2009
Buffalo News
Lawsuit in woman's death shifted to state court
1 October 2009
Buffalo News
Funds sought for autopsy on woman from Lewiston Family members pursue outside examination
14 November 2009
Buffalo News
Suspect acquitted in case linked to Wienckowski Cleared of sex counts in separate incident
22 November 2009
Buffalo News
Second autopsy suggests strangling Lawyer releases
details from Wienckowski exams
2 May 2010
Buffalo News
Attorney and former detective question original Weinckowski autopsy
3 May 2010
Niagara Gazette
Family: New autopsy shows body found in tote was strangled
3 May 2010
Buffalo News
Officials rebuked on Wienckowski death; Aided by Delano, family says autopsy missed clues that would have indicated strangulation
4 May 2010
Buffalo News
Turn over all the evidence on Amanda
5 May 2010
Buffalo News
Seeking justice for Amanda; County should cooperate with family to end mystery of young woman's death
12 May 2010
Buffalo News
Deal sealed to complete 2nd autopsy on victim; City, county agree to supply body parts
26 May 2010
Buffalo News
Wienckowski evidence stirs morgue clash
3 June 2010
Buffalo News
Her family fights lies with love
4 June 2010
Buffalo News
County findings in death cases provoke unending debate 3 rulings on cause draw criticism in science that's ultimately inexact
9 June 2010
Buffalo News
Expert to get data on Wienckowski
10 June 2010
Buffalo News
POLICE & COURTS
10 June 2010
Buffalo News
Another take on Wienckowski's death; Police raise idea of asphyxiation
20 June 2010
Buffalo News
More questions than answers in Wienckowski case
21 June 2010
Buffalo News
DNA on Wienckowski backs murder scenario, mother says
22 June 2010
Buffalo News
Wienckowski evidence still being withheld; Attorney says requests refused
3 July 2010
Buffalo News
Medical examiner might face questioning about competency
28 July 2010
Buffalo News
Woytash testimony restricted
14 August 2010
Buffalo News
City argues to retain 'horrific' autopsy photos
20 August 2010
Buffalo News
Wienckowksi autopsy ordered released; Erie County medical examiner must send all material to pathologist hired by family
22 October 2010
Buffalo News
Woytash steps down earlier than expected ; Medical examiner's autopsies questioned
26 October 2010
Buffalo News
At vigil for Wienckowski, Pridgen vows to help family
6 December 2010
Buffalo News
By candlelight, vowing to solve a death ; 2 years later, vigil calls for truth on Wienckowski
10 January 2011
Art Voice
Who Killed Amanda Wienckowski?
3 February 2011
Buffalo News
New effort in dumped-body case
17 February 2011
Buffalo News
Volunteers seek information on death
21 February 2011
Buffalo News
Under a cloud in Wienckowski death, man accused of harassing her mother; Garner is arraigned in Tonawanda court
15 September 2011
Buffalo News
Figure in Wienckowski case gets arrested again, this time in assault
16 September 2011
Buffalo News
Garner in court stare-down with accuser; Proclaims innocence on way to arraignment
21 September 2011
Buffalo News
Alleged choking by Garner carries overtones
28 September 2011
Buffalo News
Strangulation finding expected
22 November 2011
Art Voice
Amanda Wienckowski Autopsy: Murder
23 November 2011
Buffalo News
Second autopsy on Wienckowski shows beating, strangulation
23 November 2011
Buffalo News
Sedita vows to consider evidence in 2nd autopsy DA could prosecute in Wienckowski case
24 November 2011
Buffalo News
Wienckowski ruling to stand, lawyer says County to reject foul-play finding of second autopsy in letter to family
6 January 2012
Buffalo News
Amid vigil for victim, a dispute deepens
10 January 2012
Buffalo News
Impartial review needed Amanda Wienckowski's troubling death calls for an independent inquiry
15 January 2012
Buffalo News
3rd expert says death should be reclassified DA calls for renewal of Wienckowski probe
8 February 2012
Buffalo News
Chasing the sordid story of Amanda Wienckowski's
death
8 February 2012
Buffalo News
Pathologist not budging on Wienckowski; County chief affirms drug overdose, as mother alleges breach of promise
9 February 2012
Buffalo News
Change in Wienckowski death certificate is pursued
14 February 2012
Buffalo News
Wienckowski case figure in more trouble; Garner is charged with raping a 16-year-old girl he impregnated three years ago
8 March 2012
Buffalo News
Wienckowski case prompts push for felony law on handling remains
16 March 2012
Buffalo News
Abuse of body should be felony Wienckowski case shows the need for law on treatment of human remains
21 March 2012
Buffalo News
Wienckowski case’s key figure tied to Clarence home invasion
4 October 2012
Buffalo News
Wienckowski case's key figure tied to home invasion
5 October 2012
Buffalo News
Dispute in cause of Wienckowski death reaches Council
28 January 2013
Buffalo News
2 more experts challenge county on cause of Wienckowski’s death
30 January 2013
Buffalo News
Assault trial puts focus on figure in Wienckowski case
31 January 2013
Buffalo News
1 February 2013
Buffalo News
Victim testifies at Garner trial
2 February 2013
Buffalo News
Jury convicts Garner of strangulation
6 February 2013
Buffalo News
Breaking silence in Wienckowski’s death
10 February 2013
Buffalo News
Questions in Wienckowski death need answers
14 February 2013
Buffalo News
County attorney advice noted in Wienckowski dispute
22 February 2013
Buffalo News
Law would make improper disposal of body a felony
12 March 2013
Buffalo News
Antoine Garner pleads guilty to sex, robbery charges
4 April 2013
Buffalo News
Garner sentenced to 18 years amid specter of Wienckowski case
14 May 2013
Buffalo News
Saturday fundraiser planned to further Wienckowski case
7 June 2013
Buffalo News
Wienckowski family hopes to hire private investigator
8 June 2013
Buffalo News
Garner’s harassment charge is dismissed; Wienckowski’s mom blames DA
2 July 2013
Buffalo News
Rally for Amanda Wienckowski set for Sunday
25 October 2013
Buffalo News
Rally to call attention to unsolved homicide
26 October 2013
Buffalo News
Wienckowski’s family, friends rally for answers in her
death
27 October 2013
Buffalo News
$100 million suit claims county mishandled Wienckowski case
10 January 2014
Buffalo News
Auction to help push to reopen Wienckowski case
27 May 2014
Buffalo News
State Legislature poised to approve ‘Amanda’s Law’
11 June 2015
Buffalo News
Amanda Lynn's Law OK'd by Senate, Assembly
22 June 2015
Niagara Gazette
GUEST VIEW: Progress was made during recent state Legislature session
3 July 2015
Buffalo News
Amanda Wienckowski’s mother finds reassurance, but no answers, in crime scene photos
6 July 2015
Buffalo News
Wienckowski’s mother wins round in court for details about death of her daughter
13 July 2015
Buffalo News
3 lawyers helping Amanda Wienckowski’s mother get records on her death
25 August 2015
Buffalo News
Evidence is released to mother in effort to solve Amanda Wienckowski’s death
14 September 2015
Niagara Falls Reporter
Amanda's Frozen Body a Dilemma For Would be Homicide Investigators
29 September 2015
Niagara Falls Reporter
Antoine Garner Prime Suspect In Amanda Wienckowski Murder
29 September 2015
Niagara Falls Reporter
Judge Denies Family of Slain Woman Access to Official Records in Case
29 September 2015
Niagara Falls Reporter
Mother's Crusade in Search of Justice for Murdered Daughter
29 September 2015
Niagara Falls Reporter
Murder Victim's Role as Informant A Key Motive in her Brutal Slaying?
29 September 2015
Buffalo News
Judge refuses request by Wienckowski’s mother for jail logs of man she suspects in daughter’s death
29 October 2015
Buffalo News
Witness comes forward on 7th anniversary of Amanda Wienckowski’s mysterious death
23 January 2016
Buffalo News
DA declines to reopen case of woman found dead in garbage tote
15 April 2017
Buffalo News
Mother of woman found frozen in garbage tote sues county officials
23 April 2017
Timeline
