A New York man will spend at least 25 years behind bars after being convicted of shooting his elderly father in the head — while the victim sat on his couch watching football.
Drew Botsford, 49, was sentenced Friday by Sullivan County Court Judge James R. Farrell following his March conviction for second-degree murder.
What happened that night
On Oct. 8, 2023, a verbal argument broke out between Drew and his 71-year-old father, Lloyd Botsford, at their home on Bradley Road in Neversink, New York.
Prosecutors say that immediately after the fight, Drew went to his father’s bedroom, took a .22 rifle from the closet, loaded a single round, then crouched in the hallway and fired one shot — striking Lloyd in the head as he sat on the love seat.
Family members later found Lloyd unresponsive. Emergency responders were unable to save him.
The bizarre escape attempt
After the shooting, Drew stole roughly $1,668 in cash and tried to flee. He hid in the back of his aunt’s parked vehicle — but his uncle refused to hand over the keys.
Drew unknowingly locked himself inside the car while hiding. The next morning, he used a tire jack to smash the rear window to get out — and was arrested shortly after by New York State Police.
During questioning, he confessed to the killing.
What the evidence showed
Investigators found a spent shell casing exactly where Drew said he stood. Forensic testing confirmed his DNA on the rifle’s trigger, stock, and bolt — consistent with a shooter’s grip. The victim’s DNA was not found on the weapon.
The sentence
Judge Farrell sentenced Drew to 25 years to life in state prison. Sullivan County District Attorney Brian P. Conaty called it a “shocking and deeply disturbing act of violence.”
Drew’s defense attorney has said they plan to appeal the verdict.
