The Desirae Withey murder was committed on February 6, 2016, in Perry, New York, by her former friend and coworker Kira Kastenhuber, who broke into Withey’s Borden Avenue apartment in the early morning hours and beat, strangled, and stabbed the 33-year-old single mother to death while her two young daughters were in the home. Kastenhuber later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.1Democrat and Chronicle. Woman Admits Killing Former Friend Dating Ex-Boyfriend
Who Desirae Withey Was
Desirae “Desi” Withey was born on April 30, 1982, in Rochester, New York, to Duane and Alice Withey.2The Daily News Online. Desirae D. “Desi” Withey She worked at Creative Foods Ingredients, a plant on Lincoln Avenue in Perry, Wyoming County. Her obituary described her as a painter, poet, and cook who was raising two daughters on her own: six-year-old Sophia and two-year-old Zoe.3Eaton Watson Funeral Home. Desirae D. “Desi” Withey
A Friendship That Turned
Withey and Kastenhuber met at Creative Foods and became close friends. The friendship broke down after Withey began dating Larkin Daniels, another plant employee who was the father of one of Kastenhuber’s children. Once the relationship became public in early December 2015, Kastenhuber grew erratic. She confronted Withey at a company Christmas party and had to be escorted out. In the weeks that followed, she showed up uninvited at Withey’s home more than once, sometimes while Withey was still asleep, insisting they needed to talk.4The Daily News Online. A Friendship Ends in Tragedy as Perry Woman Charged With Murder
The Attack on Borden Avenue
In the early hours of Saturday, February 6, 2016, Kastenhuber broke into Withey’s apartment. Prosecutors would later describe the killing as a preconceived plan to disable and kill her.5Spectrum News. Perry Murder Borden Avenue At sentencing, First Assistant District Attorney Vince Hemming laid out the violence: Kastenhuber strangled Withey, cut her throat and wrists, slammed her head against a wall, and stabbed her repeatedly.6The Daily News Online. Emotional Day in Court as Perry Woman Sentenced for Gruesome Murder The Monroe County Medical Examiner listed the cause of death as asphyxiation and multiple injuries, and the manner as homicide.713WHAM. District Attorney: Woman Charged With Murder of Perry Woman
Six-year-old Sophia woke that morning, realized something was wrong, and ran to a neighbor, who called 911 at about 6:30 a.m. Two-year-old Zoe had also been in the home. The girls went to live with their aunt, Bethany Butler of Perry.4The Daily News Online. A Friendship Ends in Tragedy as Perry Woman Charged With Murder
Confession, Overdose, and Arrest
The day after the killing, police responded to a 911 call at Kastenhuber’s mother’s home in Rochester, where Kastenhuber had overdosed on pills. Officers found a note she had written: “I was so enraged I couldn’t control myself. Yes, I killed her.”8Spectrum News. New Details on Perry Homicide After Suspect Appears in Court She was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital. On Monday, February 8, after her release, she was arrested, arraigned in Warsaw Village Court on a charge of second-degree murder, pleaded not guilty, and was held without bail at the Wyoming County Jail.9WIVB. Perry Woman Charged With Murder After Body Discovery in Home
Investigators also recovered a written list Kastenhuber had made before the attack. It set out how to kill Withey, what to wear, and ways to make the death look like a suicide.6The Daily News Online. Emotional Day in Court as Perry Woman Sentenced for Gruesome Murder The New York State Police led the investigation, with help from the Perry Police Department and the Wyoming County District Attorney’s Office under DA Donald O’Geen.8Spectrum News. New Details on Perry Homicide After Suspect Appears in Court
Guilty Plea and Sentence
On October 6, 2016, Kastenhuber pleaded guilty in Wyoming County Court to one count of second-degree murder under a plea agreement calling for 15 years to life. She gave up her right to appeal both orally and in writing.11New York Courts. People v Kastenhuber
She was sentenced on December 1, 2016, before Judge Michael Mohun. Withey’s brother Bryan read statements from their parents, another brother Justin, and Sophia. Judge Mohun called the crime “cold, calculated, methodical and planned” and an “indescribable, horrific murder,” told Kastenhuber she was “a destroyer of worlds,” and said: “It is my hope and desire that you are not paroled from prison for the cold, calculated murder of Desirae Withey.”10The Daily News Online. Emotional Day in Court as Perry Woman Sentenced for Gruesome Murder Hemming told reporters that prosecutors would strongly recommend to the parole board that she serve the rest of her life in prison.12Herald-Courier. Kastenhuber Gets 15 to Life
Appeal and Where Kastenhuber Is Now
Kastenhuber later challenged her conviction, arguing that her appeal waiver was invalid and that she had received ineffective assistance of counsel. On January 31, 2020, the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, unanimously rejected both claims and upheld the conviction.13New York Courts. People v Kastenhuber14The Daily News Online. Court Upholds 2016 Murder Conviction
Kastenhuber is incarcerated at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Westchester County, New York. Her first parole hearing is scheduled for October 2030.14The Daily News Online. Court Upholds 2016 Murder Conviction