A Rochester parolee has been arrested on a charge of second degree murder in the hatchet slaying of 47-year-old Heather Majors in her Chili Avenue Apartment.
Majors was hit over 30 times with the hatchet on July 10th, and died two days later of her injuries.
Police identified parolee Joseph Rivera as a suspect in the crime. A violation of parole order was issued and Rivera was arrested near the “Tent City” homeless encampment on Industrial Parkway. Investigators were advised he would be held at least until the end of December while they worked with the District Attorney’s Office on the murder case.
But on Tuesday, police were notified that Rivera had been released under the new “Less is More” law, despite Parole being advised that he was going to be charged with murder.
Police contacted the U.S. Marshals Violent Felony Fugitive Task Force, which located Rivera within hours on Eastman Avenue in Rochester and arrested him.
Rivera has now been charged with murder in the death of Heather Majors and is being arraigned Wednesday in City Court.