The Bianca Devins case involved the July 2019 killing of a 17-year-old woman in Utica, New York, by Brandon Clark, who photographed her body and posted the images online before his arrest. Clark later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to state prison, and New York enacted a statute, known informally as Bianca’s Law, making it a crime for perpetrators to share images of their victims.
What Happened on July 14, 2019
Devins and Clark had met online months earlier and traveled together from Utica to New York City on the evening of July 13, 2019, to attend a concert. On the return trip, in the early hours of July 14, Clark parked in a secluded area of Utica and used a sharp instrument to inflict a fatal wound on Devins. He then photographed the scene with a mobile device.
Clark uploaded graphic images of Devins to a gaming chat application and other social media accounts. The images spread quickly, and users who saw them contacted emergency services in central New York. When Utica police arrived, Clark was near the vehicle with a knife and attempted to take his own life as officers closed in. Officers subdued him and he received medical treatment.
The Murder Charge
The Oneida County District Attorney’s office indicted Clark on Murder in the Second Degree. The statute covers several theories of murder, including intentionally causing the death of another person.1New York State Senate. New York Penal Law § 125.25 Prosecutors relied on a substantial volume of digital evidence recovered from Clark’s electronics, using recordings and other material to establish that the killing was intentional.
Guilty Plea and Sentence
Clark eventually waived his right to trial and entered a guilty plea. Before sentencing, he moved to withdraw the plea, arguing that his prior counsel had been inadequate. The court denied the motion, finding that the plea was valid and had not been involuntary.2Justia. People v. Clark (2025) At the sentencing hearing, the court heard statements about the impact of the crime and imposed a state prison term.
Bianca’s Law and What It Prohibits
The circulation of the crime-scene images prompted New York to pass a statute officially titled Unlawful Dissemination or Publication of an Image of a Crime Victim, commonly called Bianca’s Law. It makes it a crime for a person who committed or participated in an offense to share identifiable images of the victim depicting death or serious physical injury.3New York State Senate. New York Penal Law § 250.71
The statute reaches sharing done with the intent to degrade or abuse the victim, and it also covers sharing intended to cause emotional or physical harm to the victim’s family.
Penalties Under the Statute
A violation is a class A misdemeanor. A person convicted faces:4New York State Senate. New York Penal Law § 70.155New York State Senate. New York Penal Law § 65.006New York State Senate. New York Penal Law § 80.057New York State Senate. New York Penal Law § 60.35
- A jail sentence of up to 364 days
- A sentence of probation
- Fines of up to one thousand dollars
- Mandatory court surcharges and fees