© 2024 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association

140 Lower Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14202

Mailing Address:
Horizons Plaza P.O. Box 1263
Buffalo, NY 14240-1263

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Phone 716-845-7000
WBFO Newsroom | Phone: 716-845-7040
Your NPR Station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Second autospy points to strangulation in Wienckowski death

The second autopsy in the death of Amanda Wienckowski indicates she was strangled. The autopsy was released Tuesday afternoon and indicated she was strangled and beaten.

The second autopsy was ordered by her family after the 20-year old's frozen remains were found in a garbage tote on Buffalo's East Side in January 2009.

The first autopsy was done by the Erie County Medical Examiner who determined that the body was brought to the location, but that Amanda's death was the result of an accidental overdose.   Her family disagreed and said Amanda was probably murdered by the last known person to have seen her.

Amanda's sister Carolee Wienckowski said she and her family feel somewhat vindicated after hearing what they knew all along, that her death was not an accident.

"My main thing was I hated everyone speaking bad about Amanda. Now they can see what we've known all along, she's not the person that they made her out to be. Maybe now we can get some justice for her," said Wienckowski.

The family said their next step is to get Amanda's death certificate changed to say death by homicide. They are hoping  police would then reopen the investigation into her death.