Jury finds 3 defendants guilty following trial in murder of woman in Town of Tonawanda & murder of 2 victims in City of Buffalo

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced a jury found Ernest B. Green Jr., 41, of North Tonawanda, and Daniel Rodriguez, 41, of North Tonawanda, guilty of one count of murder in the second degree (class “A-I” felony) and two counts of attempted murder in the second degree (class “B” violent felonies). Jurors rendered their decision this afternoon after six hours of deliberation following an 11-day trial.

During the early morning hours of Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019, the defendants, while acting in concert with one another, murdered the victim during the course of a home invasion robbery. Green and Rodriguez unlawfully entered the victim’s residence on Ebling Avenue in the Town of Tonawanda through a rear door. Once inside of the home, Green and Rodriguez intentionally shot the female victim and her two daughters. The victim, 31-year-old Danielle Cretacci, died at the scene. The defendants stole an unknown sum of cash, which was from the victim’s workers’ compensation settlement.

The two juvenile victims, 8 years old and 11 years old at the time of the crime, were both shot. One surviving victim pretended to be dead then watched from a window as the suspects fled before going to a neighbor’s home for help. Both victims were transported to ECMC where they were hospitalized for their injuries.

Green and Rodriguez face a maximum of 75 years to life in prison when they are sentenced before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller on Friday, May 3. Both defendants remain held without bail.

Today, a jury also found Ernest B. Green Jr. and another co-defendant, Wayne Robbins, 27, of Town of Tonawanda, guilty of two counts of murder in the first degree and four counts of murder in the second degree (class “A-I” felonies).

During the early morning of Sept. 27, 2019, Green and Robbins, while acting in concert with one another, murdered two victims during the course of a robbery. Both victims were shot inside of a two-unit residence on Merrimac Street in the City of Buffalo. The defendants stole an unknown sum of cash. A short time later, Buffalo Police officers responded to a 911 call at the residence where they found both victims, 21-year-old Bethany B. Malloy and 26-year-old Shaquiel S. St. John, deceased.

Green and Robbins each face a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole when they are sentenced before Justice Boller on Friday, May 3.

Sharee Bailey, 31 of, Buffalo, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery in the first degree (class “B” violent felony) for her role in these crimes. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this month in full satisfaction of the indictment against her. Bailey, who remains held without bail pending sentence, faces up to 25 years in prison. A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.

“The families of these three victims have waited a long time for justice,” Keane said. “These two separate homicide cases were brutal killings motivated by greed. I am pleased to announce that these defendants have been convicted and face the potential of life in prison.”

Keane commends Capt. Joseph Fennell, retired detective Jeffrey Campanella and members of the Town of Tonawanda Police Department for their work in the Cretacci homicide investigation. He also commends detectives Scott Malec and Mark White, and members of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the Malloy and St. John homicide investigation. Keane also acknowledged the Amherst Police Department for its assistance.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Ryan D. Haggerty of the narcotics/intelligence bureau, Assistant District Attorney Christopher S. Safulko of the homicide bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Samantha King of the narcotics/intelligence bureau.