Louis Weber IV
Putnam County District Attorney Robert V. Tendy announced on August 24, 2021, Louis Weber IV, of Philipstown, New York pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree and Arson in the Third Degree for killing his father, Louis Weber III.
Weber, 21, and a 2018 graduate of Haldane high school, pled guilty in exhcange for a 20-year prison sentence. Weber is charged with striking his father, Louis Weber Jr. many times with a hammer before setting fire to the mobile home. Weber, 72, was a U.S. Marine Veteran. His remains were found on Nov. 4, 2019.
On November 4, 2019, firefighters and members of law enforcement responded to a fire at 11 Second Street in Philipstown where they observed a residence engulfed in flames. After putting out the fire, they discovered the body of Weber III. Although it appeared that he had died in the fire, additional investigation determined that Weber III had sustained blunt force injuries, died prior to the fire, and that the fire was intentionally set using an accelerant poured on the victim’s body. On August 23, 2020, following a lengthy and thorough investigation, Louis Weber IV was arrested and charged with these crimes. On August 24, 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty as described above and admitted, under oath, to committing these crimes.
Weber is scheduled to be sentenced by County Court Judge Joseph J. Spofford, Jr. on October 26, 2021. D.A. Tendy thanked the members of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office who worked on this case, specifically Senior Investigator John Kerwick and Investigator Shaun Menton. He would also like to thank Greg Amyot of the New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services. “This was a thoroughly professional investigation. An amazing job by everyone,” Tendy said.
The case was prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Larry Glasser and Assistant District Attorney Breanne Smith. Weber also agreed to a three-to-nine-year sentence for third-degree arson, to be served concurrently. Weber rap sheet includes being charged as a youthful offender with three hate crimes in 2019, by law enforcement investigating a swastika and anti-semetic graffit in Nelsonville, Putnam County.
