May 15, 2025
BATH, NY – Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker tells WLEA News that the charges against Annika Szathmary, 25, Pulteney, have been increased to 2nd Degree Murder. That’s after the death of the stabbing victim. Szathmary was charged on May 3, with Attempted 2nd Degree Murder.
UPDATE – 3:00pm – FULL STATEMENT FROM D.A. BAKER: Late Wednesday afternoon, the Steuben County Grand Jury handed up an indictment charging Annika M. Szathmary, 25, of Pulteney, with one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class A1 felony. The indictment alleges that Szathmary intentionally caused the death of 53 year old William Pryll at this home in the Town of Pulteney, on May 3, 2025. According to District Attorney Brooks Baker, law enforcement involved with the case began with a 9-1-1 call from Szathmary, requesting assistance with a dead body at the residence. Steuben County Sheriff’s Deputies responded and forced entry into the home, finding the victim unresponsive and bleeding on the kitchen floor. Szathmary was found with the murder weapon in the other room. Deputies, trained as paramedics, gave medical aid and were able to stabilize Pryll at the scene for transport to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, where he later succumbed to the stab wounds inflicted by the defendant. Lt. Christopher Kennedy of the Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, including the interview of the defendant, which yielded a confession that she stabbed Pryll in the back and heart, with the intent to kill him. Szathmary, who now faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted, is currently being held in the Steuben County Jail without bail. She is represented by the Steuben County Public Defenders Office and will be arraigned in Steuben County Court at a later date.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE FROM SHERIFF ALLARD: Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard reports that on May 3, 2025, Investigators and Deputies of the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office arrested Annika M. Szathmary, age 25, of Cross Street, Pulteney, New York, following a 911 report of a person stabbing another person in the Town of Pulteney. It is alleged that Ms. Szathmary stabbed another person with a knife, intending to kill them. It is further alleged that Ms. Szathmary caused serious physical injury to that person in that attempt. Ms. Szathmary was charged with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B Felony. The victim was transported to a local medical facility for treatment then transferred to a trauma center for further treatment where he has remained since the incident. Ms. Szathmary was arraigned in the Centralized Arraignment Court and held without bail.
The Sheriff’s Office Evidence Recovery Team and Criminal Investigations Unit conducted three search warrants, recovering the alleged weapon used in this incident.
