No arrests in Yolanda Bindics probe 20 years later

Mayville, N.Y. (WBEN) - Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone provided an update on Wednesday into the murder investigation of Yolanda Bindics in 2004. While no arrests have been made, one man is no longer considered a person of interest.

For the past two years, Quattrone says investigators have been reexamining the case.

"Since June of 2022, a total of 176 interviews have been conducted by the investigators, including multiple interviews of Michael Watson, who has cooperated fully with the investigation Sheriff's Office investigators, in cooperation with the FBI Crime Laboratory Division in Quantico, Virginia, also reviewed and analyzed evidence from the victim's vehicle," said Quattrone during a Wednesday press briefing.

He went on to announce that Watson is no longer a person of interest.

Quattrone says the sole remaining person of interest is Clarence Carl Cart.

"During the review of the physical evidence in this investigation, Sheriff's Office investigators located video of Cart inside the Kwik Filll store at the same time Bindics finished her work shift at the Family Dollar Store," Quattrone said, noting the two stores are located across the street from one another.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office released two images from the store, which had previously never been released to the public.

"The first still photograph shows Cart exiting the store and looking at the direction of the Family Dollar store parking lot. The second still photograph shows the vehicle Cart was driving the past night, passing the front door of the Kwik Fill," Quattrone detailed.

A confidential tip line has been established in this case, the Yolanda Bindics murder investigation tip line. The phone number is (716)-703-5955.