YASIN ABDU SABUR ARRAIGNED FOR MURDER OF TERRI LYNN BILLS IN FIVE-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE. THIS IS THE SECOND COLD CASE UNEARTHED BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY WOJTASZEK IN THREE YEARS

Yasin Abdu Sabur, 36, was arraigned on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020, before Niagara County Court Judge Sara Sheldon. The defendant was indicted by a Niagara County Grand Jury on December 19, 2019 on one count of Murder in the Second Degree (PL 125.23(1)) for the death of Terri Lynn Bills in the City of Niagara Falls.

On June 16, 2015, at 8:26 in the evening, the Niagara Falls Police were dispatched to a vacant house on Willow Avenue for a possible dead body. The police investigated and found the decomposing human remains of a female. The police have been actively investigating the case since that time.

Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said, “I am proud of the hard work of our Niagara Falls Police Department in helping bring this dormant case to the courthouse. We know how hard District Attorney Caroline Wojtaszek works to bring justice for all concerned and our NFPD will continue to work closely with her and her staff on this very important case.”

The defendant was serving a sentence for domestic violence in the second degree and child neglect in South Carolina and was extradited here on Friday, February 28, 2020, to face this indictment after serving nearly a year. Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Division went to South Carolina to take custody of Abdu Sabur and escorted him directly to the custody of our County Jail. The defendant has two prior felony convictions for Burglary in the Third Degree, first in 2006 and received 10 months in Erie County and another in 2012 in Niagara County and was sentenced to 2-4 years in state prison. He was released on November 1, 2013, violated parole and was re-incarcerated until February 27, 2015.

Niagara County District Attorney Caroline Wojtaszek said that, due to the gruesome nature of the crimes, this case was very much tied in the media to the death of Loretta Gates.

“According to our investigation, the two murders were NOT committed by the same person,” said Wojtaszek. “That determination helps us refocus on the murder of Loretta Gates and please know that we are equally committed to investigating and solving that case as well. Loretta’s family deserves justice, and we will diligently seek answers for them. We know that families in these situations are anxious for justice and some measure of closure. That is why we continue to commit the considerable resources and time to solving these cases. The violent taking of someone’s life is never forgotten and forever stays in all of our hearts and minds until justice is done.

The defendant is currently being represented by the Niagara County Public Defender’s Office. Judge Sheldon has placed a gag order on counsel from discussing any particulars of this case so no further comment will be forthcoming from the District Attorney’s Office.