MORRIS, NY — A 58-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder following a missing person investigation that began in November.
David S. Hand, of Morris, was arrested Dec. 31 and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree criminal use of a firearm, tampering with physical evidence and concealing a corpse.
The victim was identified as Lynn B. Barton, 71, of Morris.
On Nov. 8, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Barton’s family, who reported they had not had contact with him for more than two days.
Family members checking his residence on East Side Road found his vehicle, wallet and cell phone, but Barton was not present.
During the investigation, deputies interviewed an individual identified as the last known person to have contact with Barton on Nov. 7.
Information from that interview directed deputies to an area behind a vacant building on County Route 49, where Barton was discovered deceased.
Multiple scenes were secured, and the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Unit was requested to assist.
Barton was transported by Otsego County Coroner Ed Stanimer to Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton for an autopsy, which was conducted on Nov. 10.
The autopsy determined the manner of death to be homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the head.
Investigators determined that Hand shot Barton with a handgun on Nov. 7 at the County Route 49 location where he was found.
Hand made no attempt to summon medical assistance or notify law enforcement, leaving Barton at the scene and covering the body, according to authorities.
Investigators also determined that Hand attempted to plan the disposal of the body by soliciting assistance from an uninvolved individual.
Hand was arrested at the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office and arraigned at Centralized Arraignment, where he was remanded to the Otsego County Jail.
