Doing Time for Murder – At Ninety

As reported by the Buffalo News, 90 year-old John H. Bunz will be serving a 17 year sentence for the bludgeoning death of his wife, 89 year-old Virginia H. Bunz. The couple had been married 68 years.

During court proceedings two officers had to hold Bunz up to move him from his wheelchair to the defense table. In March, when the attack occurred, Bunz was not as fragile.

The State Supreme Court has been criticized for handing down a "death sentence" on the senior citizen. Bunz himself showed little emotion before apologizing for his crime, "I'm extremely sorry about what happened."

Bunz takes his place in the New York prison system as the second oldest inmate.

Buffalo law professor, Teresa A. Miller, an expert on the workings in New York State prisons said, "He defies the theories about criminal menopause. People, as they get older, generally become less dangerous and less likely to offend."

The couple was living in the Amberleigh Retirement Community when the attack took place on March 21, Bunz pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in July.

Detective Richard S. Walker, with the Amherst police department offered, "Sometime after getting up that morning, Virginia and John Bunz got into a quarrel over 'her health care issues.'"

Contrary to this information is Amberleigh's executive director's statement to The Buffalo News that Virginia Bunz was in good health, and only had a hip injury that slowed her down.

Walker said, "She gets agitated -- he gets agitated, at some point, he gets a hammer from somewhere in the home. It was an extremely violent crime scene. "

Police and prosecutors contended that Bunz stuck his wife no less than 30 times with the hammer. She tried to shield herself with her hands, which showed some of the blows, the remaining strikes were mostly to the head area.

After the attack, in an effort "to make sure the job was done" per Bunz, he held a pillow over his still wife's face. Then Bunz used a kitchen knife and cut himself above his eyes, neck and wrists in an attempt to end his own life.

Their daughter discovered the couple at approximately 10 a.m.

At the Erie County Medical Center following the attack, Bunz admitted what he had done to Detective Sgt. John J. Piracci and Detective James D. Jackson.

Psychiatric evaluations proved that Bunz was competent to stand trial, his physical condition, however, continued in a downward spiral during the last six months. 

Prosecutor Paul E. Bonanno asked for at least a 20 year prison sentence due to the brutality of the crime, while defense attorney David C. Steinhilber emphasized Bunz's role as a good man, husband and father.

Steinhilber commented, "It was a horrible, tragic anomaly in an otherwise good and decent life. It defies logic or explanation, and it is something that John and his family will grapple with all the rest of their days."

Bunz did not react to the issuing of his 17 ½ year prison sentence.  Erie County District Attorney, Frank A. Sedita III said that he realizes that this is most likely a death sentence for Bunz, but it was deserved, "This was not a mercy killing. This was not a gentle killing. This was not, as far as we know, part of any [murder-suicide] pact. This was an extraordinarily violent act."

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