A 15-year-old Saugerties student pleaded not guilty Monday, July 13, to a charge of second-degree murder in the death of 88-year-old Elena Bonjolo.
Mark J. Wanchik II entered the plea during his arraignment on an indictment returned by an Ulster County grand jury, according to the court clerk’s office. The proceeding was held in Ulster County Youth Part Court.
Wanchik was a seventh-grade student at Saugerties Junior High School and was named to the school’s second-quarter honor roll.
Wanchik was arrested June 7, the day Bonjolo was found dead outside an abandoned home in West Camp. Police said she died of blunt-impact injuries to her head and neck.
Under New York law, Wanchik is classified as a juvenile offender because he was 15 at the time of the alleged crime and is charged with second-degree murder. He is represented by the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office and is being held in a state-approved youth facility, according to Amberly Campbell, the assistant deputy county executive.
A woman who answered the phone at the public defender’s office said no one was authorized to speak with the media. She declined to identify herself.
Wanchik is due back in court for a conference on Sept. 10.
Saugerties police learned of the possible homicide when Wanchik’s family brought him to police headquarters. Officers then went to an abandoned home at 25 John Shultz Road, where they found Bonjolo’s body outside, police said.
Bonjolo lived near Wanchik, and the two knew each other but were not related, according to police.
Born in Ploče, Croatia, Bonjolo lived in the area for almost 70 years. Her husband, Marko, died before her, and she is survived by four sons and three grandchildren, according to her obituary.
“Though small in stature, Elena possessed a vibrant and unforgettable personality,” her obituary read. “She had a remarkable ability to leave a lasting impression on everyone she met. She was courageous, inspirational, kind and loving.”
John W. Barry is a reporter for The Overlook. Reach him at john@theoverlooknews.com.
