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Anthony Bechand, 53, was arraigned on Monday (September 29) in Albany County Court for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Amanda Rodriguez, in Cohoes. Bechand faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, and evidence tampering. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The incident marks the first murder in Cohoes in over a year. Rodriguez, 41, was found dead in their shared home on September 14, with an autopsy revealing she died from hemorrhagic shock due to a lacerated aorta caused by multiple stab wounds. According to the Times Union, Bechand was on the run for nearly two weeks before authorities captured him in Franklin County, New York, near Paul Smith’s College.
During the arraignment, Albany County District Attorney Lee Kindlon emphasized that Bechand is a flight risk, prompting the judge to order him to stay away from Rodriguez's relatives. NBC5 reported that Bechand's defense team plans to file a formal bail application at a later date.
The court also issued five orders of protection for Rodriguez's family and others involved in the case. Bechand remains in custody at the Albany County Jail, with his next court appearance scheduled for November 7. News10 noted that Bechand's family was present in court, showing emotional support during the proceedings.