A man identified has been arrested for the murder of his girlfriend, an Elementary school principal in Utica, NY.
Jeremy Kirsch, 45, of Camden, was arrested Wednesday for the murder of his girlfriend, Elizabeth Gerling, 50, of Marcy.
Gerling was the principal of Columbus Elementary School in the Utica City School District.
On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, Oneida County Sheriff’s Officers responded to 9111 Birch Circle in the Town of Marcy at approximately 10 a.m. for a reported death.
Upon arrival, they located a 50-year-old female deceased in her bed. The female was identified as Elizabeth A. Gerling.
The circumstances surrounding her death appeared suspicious, so arrangements were made to have Gerling’s body removed to the Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.
Investigators were able to determine that Gerling’s boyfriend, Jeremy J. Kirch, age 45 from Camden, had been at the residence the night before until early that morning.
Efforts were made to locate Kirch throughout the day. He was later located by the Rome Police Department and subsequently taken to Rome Memorial Hospital for an evaluation.
On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, deputies were notified by the medical examiner’s office that Gerling’s death was going to be ruled a homicide, and the manner of death was asphyxia due to strangulation.
Later that day, investigators from the criminal investigation unit responded to the hospital and spoke with Kirch regarding his involvement in Gerling’s death upon his discharge.
After a short conversation with him, he was transported to the Kurt B. Wyman Law Enforcement Building for further questioning.
After speaking with investigators, Kirch was arrested for murder in the second degree and he was arranged in Rome City Court Thursday morning and remanded to the Oneida County jail without bail.
Although an arrest has been made, the investigation into Elizabeth Gerling’s death is still on-going. The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office is asking anybody who may have seen a gray in color 2019 Ford F350 towing a 2021 R-Pod camper on August 20 between 6am and 8am to contact them at (315) 765-2226.