Police suspect man killed New York girl he met on Instagram and shared photos of her body online
By Frank Miles | Fox News
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A New York man, 21, found seriously injured near the body of a 17-year-old girl is suspected of killing the teen and posting photos of her body on Instagram, where they'd first met digitally, police said Monday.
Investigators found the girl’s body Sunday outside a vehicle in Utica, along with the man; he was hospitalized but is expected to survive, police said.
The teen was identified as Bianca Devins, Utica Police Sgt. Michael Curley said. He identified Brandon Clark, 21, as the injured man and suspect in the slaying.
Clark was charged with second-degree murder Monday night, police said. It was unclear whether the suspect had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
The girl's family said in a statement to Fox News: “Bianca, age 17, was a talented artist, a loving sister, daughter, and cousin, and a wonderful young girl, taken from us all too soon. She is now looking down on us, as she joins her cat, Belle, in heaven.”
Police were investigating the case as a murder and attempted suicide, Lt. Bryan Coromato said, WNBC reported.
Utica Police said in a statement to Fox News: “With respect to their relationship, it was learned that the two had met on the social media platform Instagram approximately two months ago. They utilized this as a means of communication primarily, and their relationship progressed into a personally intimate one. They had spent time together, and were acquainted with each other’s families.”
Investigators believe the man posted pictures of the girl’s corpse on Instagram, where at least one was widely circulated, Coromato said.
Devins’ death sparked a wave of attention and disgust online over the pictures. Some Internet users urged others to stop circulating the images.
“Our thoughts go out to those affected by this tragic event. We are taking every measure to remove this content from our platforms,” Instagram spokeswoman Stephanie Otway told Fox News via email.
Instagram blocked the hashtag #yesjuliet for attempting to spread the image of the girl’s corpse.
Clark’s accounts on Facebook and Instagram were removed Monday, and Otway told Fox News that Instagram was in contact with law enforcement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
After Teen Is Brutally Murdered, Photos Of Her Corpse Circulate Online
Breaking 911
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UTICA, New York — On Sunday, around 7:20AM Oneida County Dispatch received numerous calls informing them that a male individual had posted to a social media site that he had killed his girlfriend, and was threatening to harm himself. It was posted that this occurred in Utica, NY, and as such, The Utica Police Department began a search for the male and female.
The male in question then called 911 himself and made incriminating statements with respect to the homicide. He also was alluding the fact that he was going to harm himself. After determining that the calls were originating on Poe St in City of Utica, officers were dispatched to that location. Poe St is a dead end street, which runs east to west from Culver Ave. The street terminates into a wooded area where the first arriving officer located a black SUV with a male lying on the ground beside it. The officer approached this male, and almost immediately, he began to stab himself in the neck with a knife. The officer requested emergency medical care, and the Utica Fire Department arrived soon after.
After attempting to injure himself, he laid down across a green in color tarp that was on the ground some distance away. The officer immediately noticed brown hair protruding from beneath the tarp and inquired as to where the injured female was. The male advised him that the female was beneath the tarp, and proceeded to pull out a cell phone. It was at this time that is believed that the male took self-photographs of himself laying across the deceased female.
Other officers arrived within moments, and together they engaged the male. They were able to disarm the male, and after a brief struggle, they took him into custody. He was then transported to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. His injuries were severe; however, he is expected to survive. An interview with him will be undertaken today, and following that charges will be levied.
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As more personnel arrived on scene, the investigation commenced. Officers and investigators needed to verify the condition of the female underneath the tarp, and as such, it was pulled back. Once this occurred, it was learned that a young female had suffered extensive injuries to her neck, and was obviously deceased. Numerous items of evidentiary value were located immediately around the body, as well as in and around the black SUV.
To continue the investigation officers had to determine the relationship between the male and female involved. A tentative identification had been developed at this time, and they began to explore her history. With respect to their relationship, it was learned that the two had met on the social media platform Instagram two months ago. They utilized this as a means of communication primarily, and their relationship progressed into a personally intimate one. They had spent time together, and were acquainted with each other’s families.
On Saturday July 13th, 2019 the two had planned to go to a concert together in New York City. Police say that they in fact did go to the concert, arriving around 7:30PM. They left the venue and proceeded back to Utica sometime after 10:00PM. It is believed that some sort of argument ensued at the venue that precipitated the following engagement between the two.
Sometime during the early morning hours of Sunday July 14, 2019 the two arrived back in Utica and proceeded to the Poe St location. The investigation revealed that the argument progressed until the killer produced a large, black handled knife, and used this to inflict the injuries that caused her death.
During this time it is believed that he took and distributed photographs of the killing on the Discord platform, showing her throat cut open. Members of Discord then viewed the images and posts and contacted the Utica Police Department.
Police confirm the images distributed of both the victim and the offender’s injuries are authentic and occurred at the time of the incident. Police are working with the various social media platforms to address the sharing and distribution of these images.
The name of the victim is Bianca Devins, age 17 of Utica NY
The offender, Brandon Clark, age 21, has a current address of Bridgeport/Cicero NY.
