Shaw was spending this muggy June evening at his house in Florida. It was his fixed residence, though he spent little time in the place. It was a large, rustic craftsman home, on a lake: wormwood walls, leaded glass windows—several were stained glass. Gables. The siding was natural shake shingles. It featured four bedrooms, a study, a kitchen built for someone who was a far better and more eager cook than Colter Shaw. Eclectic assortment of furniture. Ancient maps were his main decorations—he collected them.

The favorite feature was a long lake-facing porch for sipping coffee in the a.m. and beer ten hours later (where he presently was, and what he was presently drinking). People envied him, having such a homey, stylish place. He thought he should appreciate it more. Shaw was known in his family as “the restless one,” and his abode tolerance was about thirty days, tops. It was then time for the road.

Shaw walked into the den, which was awash with brilliant light; the June sun was low in the west. He Googled “Jude Sterling” and was surprised that only three brief articles in the county newspaper, The Valley Register, came up. One was about his winning a long-distance foot race for his high school last year. The other two were about the shooting. To Shaw, it seemed odd there were no other articles.

Hanson Valley Resident Charged in Shooting Death of Drug Dealer

January 14. Jude Anthony Sterling, a 19-year-old resident of Hanson Valley, was arrested yesterday and charged with second-degree murder and related offenses in the shooting death of Daryl Williams, 29, on January 12.

Williams was shot to death at the Mason Gravel and Rock Quarry off Pemberton Road. According to a Steuben County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, the quarry is known as a place for drug sales among local youth. Authorities in Canton, where Williams lived, reported that he had a history of drug offenses in that city and in Akron.

The county sheriff’s office spokesman added that a certain amount of drugs and cash, traceable to Williams, was found in Sterling’s truck immediately after the killing. The alleged murder weapon was also found in Sterling’s truck.

He will be arraigned tomorrow.

Quarry Killer Found Guilty

May 17. Hanson Valley resident Jude A. Sterling was convicted today of second-degree murder in the death of Daryl Williams, 29, on January 12 of this year. He was also convicted of possession of controlled substances and larceny.

Williams, a known drug dealer, was shot in the back of the head by Sterling at the Mason Gravel and Rock Quarry. Sterling also robbed Williams of drugs and cash.

It took the jury three and a half hours to reach a verdict.

Judge Hanley Warwick Walker sentenced the defendant to twenty-five years to life.

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