Niagara Falls man gets 20 years for fatally stabbing woman in motel room

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Niagara Falls man was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to murdering a woman last year, the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.

37-year-old Brian Wallace pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in June for the death of 38-year-old Lauren Hayes.

Shortly before 2 a.m. on the morning of Feb. 21, 2023, police said they responded to a motel in Niagara Falls where a woman had reportedly been stabbed. The body of the deceased woman was found in one of the rooms.

Wallace and Hayes were known to each other.

“Ms. Hayes’ life came to a terrible and tragic end at the hands of this defendant in that hotel room,” said Niagara County DA Brian Seaman. “This crime is certainly deserving of the sentence handed down by the court.”

Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.