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Update: On November 30, 2017, the second-degree manslaughter charges filed by Chautaqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson against Thomas Jadlowski were thrown out due to a technicality. On March 19, 2018, Swanson re-indicted Jadlowski, filing a new two-count indictment for second-degree manslaughter and hunting after hours. Jadlowski pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 1-3 years in prison on January 14, 2019. Thanks to everyone who took this action and helped Jamie Billquist secure justice for Rosemary!
The day before Thanksgiving, 43 year-old Rosemary Billquist got home from work and took her dogs for a walk in the field behind her house in Sherman, New York. She was excited about running in the YMCA Buffalo Niagara Turkey Trot the following day with her husband of 27 years, a tradition for the couple.
The sun had set when her neighbor, Thomas B. Jadlowski, fired a round at Rosemary from 200 yards away with a handgun, killing her. He told police he thought she was a deer. It is illegal to hunt in Chautaqua County after dark.
Rosemary’s husband Jamie asked the following question: “He thought it was a deer, which is hard for me to believe. If you don’t know what it is, why shoot?”
Despite the fact that Jadlowski’s actions were both illegal and grossly negligent, Chautqua County authorities have yet to bring charges against him. It’s time to change that.
Please contact Chautaqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson and Sheriff Joe Grace through one of the channels below and give them the following message:
I am outraged that you have not already brought charges against Thomas Jadlowski for killing Rosemary Billquist. Jadlowski’s actions were both illegal (hunting after dark) and grossly negligent and there should be no doubt about his criminal culpability in this matter. Stop treating gun owners like super-citizens who bear no responsibility for their own actions. Charge Thomas Jadlowski with negligent manslaughter and do justice in this case. He stole from us a special woman who made this world a better place. Her life is over and her husband’s is destroyed. Jadlowski deserves neither mercy nor special consideration.
District Attorney Patrick Swanson
Phone: (716) 753-4241
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrickswanson2016/posts/1487098408075845
Sheriff Joe Grace
Phone: (716) 753-4232
Email via webform: http://www.sheriff.us/contact-us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chautcosheriff/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChautCoSheriff
Once you have contacted DA Swanson and Sheriff Grace, click the orange banner below to report taking action!