Mother of fatal stabbing victim sues Dutchess County
Cheryl Chianese, the mother of a woman who was stabbed to death last year in Wappingers Falls, is suing Dutchess County over her daughter's death.
More Stories
Cheryl Chianese, the mother of a woman who was stabbed to death last year in Wappingers Falls, is suing Dutchess County over her daughter's death.
She alleges that the county's Probation Department didn't do enough to protect her or her daughter from Paul Senecal.
Senecal stabbed 29-year-old Melanie on Chinaese doorstep after she broke up with Senecal and got a restraining order.
MORE: Dutchess County man convicted of murdering daughter of his ex-girlfriend
Chinaese says Senecal has been terrorizing her still from behind bars with unwanted communication.
According to the suit, Senecal broke protection orders several times before the murder. He was eventually put on GPS monitoring and court-ordered home confinement.
News 12 reached out to the County for a comment and is awaiting a response.
Earlier this year, a Dutchess County jury found Senecal guilty on all five counts, including first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. During the trial, Senecal testified that his mental health issues contributed to the murder, saying “the devil” made him do it.
