SARANAC LAKE — A Saranac Lake woman is facing 17 years to life in prison after she pleaded guilty to the August 2023 murder of an Indian Lake man, her son-in-law, on Tuesday.

Ann M. Favro, 58, of Saranac Lake, was charged with killing David J. Chenier, 32, on Aug. 12 last year after New York State Police discovered his body at a home on Big Brook Road following a report of shots fired that evening.

Earlier this week, she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, a felony, before Hamilton County Court Judge Michael Smrtic. Favro’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 9.

She is currently incarcerated at Herkimer County Jail. If the proposed sentenced is levied, Favro will be eligible for parole in 17 years.

Hamilton County District Attorney Marsha Purdue, who prosecuted the case, said this plea bargain was not easy to reach, and there was a lot of “back and forth” between her and attorney Marc Zuckerman, who was assigned to defend Favro as she pushed for a sentence of up to life in prison. Zuckerman could not be reached for comment by deadline.

Purdue said Favro’s defense wanted to agree to a manslaughter charge with a sentence of years in prison, but not up “to life.” Purdue said she would not agree to a plea deal unless the sentence was up “to life.”

Second-degree murder carries a minimum sentence with parole of 25-to-life. Purdue said she only agreed on a 17-to-life sentence after she spoke with the victims and got their blessing.

Purdue said there was a lot of evidence to support the murder charge, saying Favro’s actions fit the description of second-degree murder.

She was glad the case did not have to go to trial, which she said would be hard on the family. Trials are traumatic, and it is always uncertain what jury will do, she said.

Favro will eventually be eligible to be released from prison, but that might never happen if parole is not granted.

“I don’t think she should get out after what she did,” Purdue said. “She deprived her grandchildren of their father.”

Purdue said a motive has been determined, but she declined to share it until after Favro’s sentencing for legal and family-related reasons. She did say Favro’s actions related to her daughter.

Her daughter was married to Chenier, but they were not living together at the time.

Purdue said they had one biological daughter together and one child from another relationship, and she was told Chenier was considered a father to both of them.

His family has been deeply upset over the “horrendous” loss, Purdue said. Recently, she said they told her they are glad the case will be finalized and over soon — around a year exactly from the murder.

Favro was arrested in a traffic stop on the same day as the murder, around two or three hours after the murder was suspected to have taken place.

On that night, Purdue said Favro drove from Saranac Lake to Chenier’s home in Indian Lake.

“She knocked on his door and shot him when he answered,” Purdue said.

Early in the investigation, NYSP asked homeowners on state routes 28 and 30 in Long Lake and Blue Mountain Lake to look out for any “suspicious found property” on their land or in their outside garbage bins. There was suspicion that evidence was discarded in the area.

Purdue said the gun Favro used was never found. She said police collected .30-30 ammunition shells at the scene, a cartridge often used in lever-action rifles and in some handguns.

Chenier’s cause of death was determined to be gunshot wounds to the chest and neck in an autopsy done by pathologist Michael Sikirica, who ruled the death a homicide.

Chenier was an employee at Elkin Tree Service.

Company owner Kevin Elkin made a public social media post after his death, writing that their work family has suffered an “irreplaceable and devastating loss.”

“He was like a son to me and it’s going to be difficult picking up the pieces and moving forward,” Elkin wrote. “He loved anything to do with a chainsaw. He was a talented timber feller and was quickly honing his skills, doing complicated aerial removals.”

Elkin said Chenier had worked with him for six years and three months.

“He quickly became intertwined in our lives and a cornerstone of my company,” Elkin wrote. “We are diminished. As a family. As a community. As a company. Rest in peace brother.”