Salamanca killer Edward Kindt arrested for allegedly escaping transitional housing

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Salamanca killer Edward Kindt, who was released from prison in 2023 after raping and murdering a Salamanca woman in 1999 when he was 15 years old, was arrested early Wednesday for allegedly escaping his transitional housing in Dutchess County, officials said.

Officials said that Kindt allegedly escaped from supervised housing and returned to Salamanca. State Senator George Borrello said in a release the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office was not notified by the state until six days after the alleged escape. He was taken into custody just before 2 a.m. at 140 West Ave. in the City of Salamanca, according to the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said Kindt was transported to the Cattaraugus County Jail and was held pending transport by New York State Parole.

New York State DOCCS officials said Kindt was scheduled for an office report on July 23, and when he did not show up, attempts to locate him at his approved residence and other locations were unsuccessful. After using data from his GPS device to determine his last known location, an absconder warrant was issued to help take him into custody.

It is alleged that this is the second time Kindt has violated his parole. According to documents provided to WIVB News 4, Kindt was arrested for the first time in November 2023 for violating his parole and was held at Dutchess County Jail until Dec. 15.

Kindt’s March 2023 release from the Elmira Correctional Facility was a major controversy in the Southern Tier. Area residents expressed concern about Kindt being allowed to come into the community and serve his parole there. The daughters of the victim, Penny Brown, said when Kindt was released that he did not show remorse for the killing and should not have been allowed back into society.

Efforts had been made to release him to a motel in Allegany, but the motel’s owner denied a request from a parole officer to let him stay there. He was eventually sent downstate to Dutchess County to serve his parole time.

The family fought for years to keep Kindt locked behind bars. They worked with local lawmakers to pass Penny’s law, which increased the second-degree murder sentence for someone under 16 years old to 15 years to life.

Kindt, who is Seneca, was banned from all Seneca Nation territories for one year when he was released, lasting until March 28, 2024. The Seneca Nation re-upped the ban for at least one more year, lasting until at least 2025.

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here .