The suspect in a double homicide in Syracuse that left a woman and a young boy dead was arraigned in a emotional city court appearance on Wednesday morning.
David Huff, 43, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and a count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the deaths of 32-year-old Yeraldith Tschudy, of Rochester, and Huff's son, 11-year-old Jeremiah Huff. In front of Judge Ross Andrews, Huff pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Inside the courtroom, people cried and shouted at David, calling him a coward and demanding justice as he was arraigned.
Following an overnight search across Onondaga County, David was apprehended on Tuesday morning near the crime scene on Roney Road, where responding police officers found Tschudy and Jeremiah dead at the home. Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile said Wednesday that Jeremiah called his mother when David entered the house Monday night, and his mother, Samantha Gallup-Peltier, called 911.
Her gutwrenching reaction to losing a child provided some of the day's most difficult moments.
"Please don't stop saying his name," an emotional Gallup-Peltier said outside court Wednesday. "Jeremiah Huff. We will miss him every day, and my life is empty."
Cecile said three people called police and said they'd spotted David, leading to his arrest. Onondaga County District Attorney Wiliam Fitzpatrick said David was in a romantic relationship with Tschudy.
“It’s one thing to get a phone call to find out your child is dead from a car accident or some other heinous act," Fitzpatrick said. "But to be on the phone listening to your son murdered, she’ll never get over that, ever.”
Gallup-Peltier on Wednesday recalled a child who was full of life.
“He loved to skateboard, and he loved to fish. And he loved to snuggle on the couch and have a cup of coffee in the morning. He loved every animal, and he loved being outside. And he loved nature, he loved his father, and he’s not here.”
David is being held without bail; his next court appearance is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Fitzpatrick said the case against him — who said his team is still "early on" in the investigation — will be presented to a grand jury "in the coming days."
He did, however, say on Wednesday, “This is a very, very, sad, sad day, that this little boy and poor woman were shot, apparently for absolutely nothing.”
Fitzpatrick said they expect to begin interviewing the family to try to understand what could have triggered this tragedy as early as next week. The DA said David Huff's criminal record did not show a history of violence.
David also could face an attempted murder charge, Fitzpatrick said, after investigators said he pointed a shotgun at his stepfather, but the gun either malfunctioned or ran out of ammunition.
Fitzpatrick added that prosecutors also met with Gallup-Peltier and other members of Jeremiah's family on Wednesday.
"I'm at a loss for words," Fitzpatrick said. "It was just heartbreaking."
The community has now joined in Gallup-Peltier's mourning.
“You know, I always think about the potential of that child, you know, what he or she would have accomplished, given the opportunity to have a full life,” Cecile said.
