Cheektowaga man receives maximum sentence for beating his wife to death

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced 38-year-old Yuriy Bruks of Cheektowaga was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to 25 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.

On Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019, at approximately 3:40 a.m., police and paramedics responded to a home on Raymond Avenue in the Town of Cheektowaga after receiving a 911 call where they found the victim, 34-year-old Tetiana Bruks, deceased inside of a bathroom.

The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the victim’s death as a homicide caused by blunt force trauma to her head, neck and torso. The investigation determined that the defendant caused the death of his wife by beating her repeatedly.

As police investigated the homicide, the defendant fled the area. Two months later, U.S. Marshals Service arrested Bruks after he illegally crossed into Mexico. When he was taken into custody, the defendant was found in possession of a one-way plane ticket from Mexico City to Istanbul, Turkey.

Bruks pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter in the first degree (class “B” violent felony) on April 28, 2023.

“The family of Tetiana Bruks has waited a long time for justice,” Flynn said. “My office will continue to hold abusers accountable for their crimes. I encourage anyone who feels unsafe at home to contact the BE SAFE domestic violence victim advocacy program. My office and other resources in our community are available to help.”.

DA Flynn commends Det. Terry Griffin of the Cheektowaga Police Department for his work in this investigation. Flynn also commends the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force for locating and apprehending the defendant.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan D. Haggerty of the homicide bureau.

The BE SAFE domestic violence victim advocacy program specializes in advocacy within the criminal courts. Its victim advocates are available to provide trauma-informed support and resources to anyone impacted by domestic violence. While the program primarily works with victims who are navigating the criminal justice process and rebuilding their lives following the arrest of the offender, one does not need to have a pending criminal case to speak with an advocate and access services.

For more information on the BE SAFE Domestic violence victim advocacy program, call 716-858-4630 or visit www.erie.gov/besafe.