Swan Lake

To the editor:

Over a year ago, Ira Zolcho­nock, a man loved by many, was brutally murdered. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of that handsome face with the most beautiful smile, and miss him dearly, and I know this is true for many of the people who were lucky enough to count Ira as a friend.

He has certainly not been forgotten by his friends and family, but it feels like he has been forgotten by the office of the Sullivan County District Attorney. A full year later, no charges have been filed and according to Sullivan County DA Meagan Galligan, it is an “open investigation.”

It is totally incomprehensible that no one was even charged with assault when Ira was so brutally beaten that he was unrecognizable, and those closest to him were unable to visit him to say their final goodbyes.

Ira was a long-time resident of Sullivan County and the Sullivan County District Attorney, in my opinion, is not interested in justice for one of its residents.

According to Marc, Ira’s son, he was told by the DA’s office that this case would go to the grand jury by Thanksgiving 2021, then by the end of the year. Nothing has happened.

The DA says that the state police have not yet completed the investigation and we find this hard to believe, when most facts were known by the next day.

Residents of Sullivan County know that the problems in the DA’s office are many.   The fact that there are no consequences for the murder of Ira Zolchonock makes this even more apparent.