Murder Investigation

Seneca County Sheriff W. Timothy Luce reports an update to the murder investigation in the Town of Waterloo.

On September 30, 2022, at about 1:08am, the Seneca County E-911 Center received a call of a male that had been shot at 121 Route 96 in the Town of Waterloo. Members of the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, and Waterloo Police Department immediately responded to the scene. Upon their arrival, the suspects had fled the scene. Officers immediately started rendering aid to the victim. The victim was then transported to Geneva General Hospital by North Seneca Ambulance where he was pronounced dead. The victim has been identified as William J. Waugh, age 33, of 404 Vine Street, Euless, Texas.

An intense investigation was immediately launched by Seneca County Sheriff’s Investigators with assistance from the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Ontario County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, and Seneca County District Attorney’s Office. At this time, Sheriff Luce can report that two male suspects are now in custody in relation to the incident.

Christopher T. Kesterson, age 36, of 12 Quarry Street, Phelps, New York, has been charged with Murder in the Second Degree and Assault in the First Degree in relation to his role in the crime. Kesterson was arraigned in the Seneca County Centralized Arraignment Court on October 1, 2022, and remanded to the Seneca County Correctional Facility on no bail. Kesterson is to reappear in the Waterloo Town Court on October 5, 2022, at 5pm.

Wayne J. Ellison, Jr., age 37, of 75 Virginia Street, Apt. 2, Waterloo, New York, is currently being held in Tampa, Florida, on an arrest warrant on charges of Murder in the Second Degree, Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree, Burglary in the First Degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Ellison was taken into custody by the Tampa Police Department and will be extradited back to the State of New York at a later date.

Sheriff Luce would like to thank the New York State Police, Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, Geneva Police Department, Seneca Falls Police Department, Seneca County E-911 Center, Tampa Police Department, and the Waterloo Police Department for their assistance in this case.

At this time, Seneca County Sheriff’s Investigators are continuing the investigation and all media inquiries may be directed to Investigator Lieutenant Tim Thompson by e-mail at tthompson@co.seneca.ny.us or by phone at (315) 220-3449.