PRESS RELEASE
New York State Police have arrested 25-year-old Cody A. Franciscovich of Owego, NY and charged him with murder in the first degree, an A Class Felony in connection with the death of his 8-month-old daughter, Ruby L. Franciscovich.
At approximately 7:14 a.m., Sunday, June 9, 2019 Tioga County 911 received a call to check the welfare on an 8-month-old who was missing from the Deep Well Motel on Route 17C in the town of Tioga. Responding troopers began their search to locate 8-month-old Ruby L. Franciscovich who was reportedly last seen at the motel with her father, Cody Franciscovich. Cody Franciscovich, Ruby Franciscovich, her mother and two other children ages 2 and 4 had been residing at the motel for several weeks.
Shortly before 8 a.m., Tioga County 911 received another 911 call of a naked male on Route 17C in the town of Tioga. Troopers soon located Cody Franciscovich on Route 17C, just west of the motel. They interviewed him about Ruby Franciscovich’s whereabouts and he directed the troopers to a pond behind St. Patrick’s Cemetery on Route 17C. Troopers observed Ruby face down about 25-feet from shore. A trooper quickly waded out into the water and retrieved Ruby, and initiated CPR. Owego Ambulance transported Ruby to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City where she was pronounced deceased.
Cody Franciscovich was arraigned and remanded to the Tioga County Jail on no bail. He is set to appear in the town of Tioga court on Wednesday, June 12, 2019.
The investigation is on-going. The two other children are with other family members and Child Protective Services is actively involved in the case.
