COHOES, N.Y. — A person of interest in a Cohoes homicide is still at large, Chief of Police Todd Waldin and Mayor Bill Keeler said midday on Monday. Out of precaution, Waldin said Anthony G. Bechand, 53, is considered armed and dangerous.
“I can’t say that, you know, there’s no threat out there. There’s somebody who’s done a horrific act,” Waldin said. “Consider this person to potentially be armed and dangerous and somebody we definitely need to speak to about what took place.”
The victim, Amanda Rodriguez, owned and lived in a house at 4 Earl Lynn Court with Bechand, her boyfriend. They were the only residents. On Sunday, Rodriguez’s mother called a friend to check in on Rodriguez, as her mother hadn’t heard from her in a while.
After arriving, the friend called for a welfare check, and around 9:15 a.m., police, fire, and EMS arrived to find Rodriguez deceased, Keeler said at the press conference. They believe that Rodriguez, 41, died on Saturday.
The autopsy was conducted around noon on Monday. It confirmed the manner of death was a homicide and determined the cause of death as a ruptured aorta and massive hemorrhage.
As they lived together, Waldin said it was natural to attempt to find Bechand. His truck was seen at the house and then leaving the house. It was tracked using license plate readers to the Town of Brighton in Franklin County, where State Police found it abandoned on Sunday.
In a press release, State Police described Bechand as a white male, approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing about 180 pounds, with hazel eyes and brown hair. There was no available clothing description.
Waldin said if a person sees the suspect, not to approach him and call law enforcement. The State Police can be reached at 518-897-2000.
As the vehicle was found heading towards the Canadian border and in a wooded area, Waldin said U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and New York State Forest Rangers are actively searching. The State Police Major Crimes team and Forensic Identification Unit are also assisting.
Keeler also mentioned sensors along the New York and Canadian border that alert law enforcement to someone attempting to cross. There are many search warrants out at the moment, Waldin said, including for the car, but did not comment on if any evidence or weapons were found inside the vehicle.
Waldin said there were no prior incidents at the house since Rodriguez bought it about 10 years ago, and the suspect did not have any criminal background. They do not know of any weapons that Bechand may have, Waldin said, and the armed and dangerous warning is “out of an abundance of caution.”
They do not have any information on whether it was pre-planned, and they did not share comments that neighbors or friends may have made about the victim or suspect. Bechand, a local landscaper, is not originally from Cohoes, and Waldin said he didn’t know the different places he may have lived beforehand.
It is the first homicide in the city since 2023. Waldin said the area of Cohoes where it took place is “very quiet” and nothing generally happens there, but every situation is different.
For people who may be worried, Waldin said they are doing everything they can and hope it comes to a peaceful solution. It goes without saying that their thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family, Keeler said.
“We are using all resources available,” Waldin said. “We’re pulling out all the stops, and no one is going to rest until this comes to a conclusion.”