The post Rochester Couple Charged With Starving a Disabled Man to Death; Police Allege Benefits Were Misused first appeared on Crafting Your Home.
A Rochester, New York, woman and her boyfriend are facing murder, kidnapping, and other charges in connection with the death of 33-year-old Timothy Green, a developmentally disabled man who police say was severely malnourished and physically restrained before he died.
Andrea Livers, 58, Green’s biological mother, and Lancysa Harris, 42, were arrested on Sept. 15, 2026, after a sealed indictment was issued. The indictment was unsealed the following day, revealing charges of second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, according to Rochester police and local news reports.
Authorities also allege that Harris became the designated payee for Green’s Social Security and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and that the couple used some of those benefits for themselves. A federal investigation into the benefits remains ongoing. The allegations have not been tested at trial. Both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
What Happened to Timothy Green?
Police were called to an apartment at or near St. Paul and Andrews streets in Rochester at about 11 a.m. on Feb. 17, 2026, following a report of an unresponsive man. First responders found Green dead inside the apartment. Police said he was naked, appeared severely malnourished, and had bruising on his body, including around his wrists and ankles. Rochester news outlets reported he weighed about 88 pounds when they found him. Police have said Green had previously weighed about 130 pounds.
Livers and Harris were inside the apartment and had called 911, according to police. Investigators said the pair’s initial explanation did not account for Green’s condition and that they later became uncooperative.
A subsequent search of the apartment became an important part of the investigation.
What Did Police Say They Found Inside the Apartment?
According to Rochester police, detectives executing a search warrant found handcuffs, barbells, and weights inside the apartment. Police also described an unusually large amount of cleaning supplies. Investigators reported that they did not find clothing, bedding, or other personal belongings that would normally be expected to belong to Green, despite evidence that he lived there.
Police have alleged that Green was physically restrained, including with handcuffs and home-gym equipment. Investigators also said cellphone evidence later provided information supporting the allegation that he had been restrained.
Investigators cited those items as evidence; their meaning and significance will ultimately be determined through the criminal proceedings.
Surveillance Footage Became Part of the Investigation
Investigators reviewed security footage covering approximately 45 days before Green’s death, according to Rochester police. Police said the footage did not show Green leaving the apartment during that period. Investigators reported that Livers and Harris were the people seen entering and leaving the residence.
The surveillance evidence is significant because it supports investigators’ timeline of Green’s confinement, but it does not, by itself, establish every allegation in the indictment. The court process will address those issues.
Police have said the alleged abuse occurred during a period extending from about Jan. 19 through Feb. 17, 2026.
How Were Green’s Benefits Involved?
The case also includes allegations involving Green’s government benefits. Police said Harris became the designated payee for Green’s Social Security and SNAP benefits around June 2024. Around the same period, investigators said Green stopped attending medical appointments and other scheduled activities.
Detectives later determined that Green’s SNAP benefits were allegedly being used by Livers and Harris for themselves rather than to provide food for Green, according to police. The allegations involving Social Security and SNAP are not yet the conclusion of a completed federal investigation. Rochester police said federal authorities are investigating how Green’s benefits were handled.
That distinction matters because the current criminal charges announced by authorities concern Green’s death, alleged confinement and alleged endangerment. The separate benefits investigation could develop further as federal authorities examine the records.
What Did the Medical Examiner Determine?
The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office determined in July 2026 that Green’s death was a homicide. The reported cause of death was severe dehydration and failure to thrive in a setting of probable restraint.
The medical examiner’s determination is separate from the criminal allegations against Livers and Harris. A homicide classification means authorities determined that Green’s death resulted from the actions of another person or persons; it does not, by itself, establish that a particular defendant is legally responsible.
Police say their investigation connected the medical findings with evidence of alleged restraint inside the apartment.
What Charges Do Livers and Harris Face?
Both defendants face three reported charges:
- Second-degree murder
- First-degree kidnapping
- Endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person
The charges stem from allegations concerning Green’s treatment and death.
Second-degree murder is the principal homicide charge in the case. The kidnapping charge relates to the allegation that Green was unlawfully confined. The endangerment charge concerns alleged conduct toward a person described by authorities as physically disabled and in need of assistance.
A charge does not mean the prosecution has proved it. The defendants remain entitled to challenge the evidence and allegations in court.
What Happens Next in the Case?
Livers and Harris are being held in the Monroe County Jail without bail, according to current local reporting. Their next scheduled court appearance is Sept. 23, 2026.
The case is expected to proceed through the New York criminal court system while prosecutors and defense attorneys address the allegations and evidence.
Meanwhile, the federal investigation into Green’s benefits remains separate and ongoing.
For now, the publicly established facts are that Green was found dead in a Rochester apartment in February, the medical examiner classified his death as a homicide, and two people have been charged in connection with his death. Police allege that Green was deprived of adequate food and water, physically restrained, and that his benefits were misused.
The criminal allegations remain allegations unless established in court.
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