Broome Murder Trial Underway

Staff Report

SCHOHARIE - Opening arguments started this week in a trial in the death of a Middleburgh man in the Town of Broome in November 2023.

Michael Todtschinder, 24, of Middleburgh, is accused of killing Jeffrey E. Mickle, 41, in November 2023.

Schoharie County Deputies discovered Mr. Mickle’s body with several apparent gunshot wounds in the Town of Broome after Mr. Mickle was reported missing.

Mr. Todtschinder has been charged with second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.

A jury was selected on Tuesday.

The Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office initially made two arrests in the murder.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Mr. Mickle was last seen alive on Saturday, November 25, 2023. Four days later, Deputies began investigating a missing persons report, they said.

That investigation led to the discovery of Mr. Mickle’s body with multiple gunshot wounds in the Town of Broome.

After further investigation, Deputies executed search warrants and an arrest warrant for: Mr. Todtschinder on charges of second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence and Walter J. Fahrenkopf, then 39, of Fulton, on charges of concealment of a human corpse, for his alleged part in Mr. Mickle’s death. He reportedly assisted in concealing the corpse, Deputies said.

Mr. Todtschinder was located in Dalton, Pennsylvania and taken into custody with the help of the Pennsylvania State Police. He was initially held in custody at the Lackawanna County Correctional Facility in Scranton, Pennsylvania, awaiting extradition to Schoharie County.

Mr. Fahrenkopf was arrested and processed at the Sheriff’s Office. He was arraigned at the Schoharie County Centralized Arraignment Court and sent to the County Correctional Facility without bail.

In May 2024, Mr. Fahrenkopf pled guilty to manslaughter in the death.

Fahrenkopf pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, a Class B violent felony, and concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony, in Schoharie County Court, according to court officials. He was sentenced last November 4 and was expected to receive a prison term of 20 years.

A third arrest was made in June 2024.

Jenna Fahrenkopf, formerly known as Jenna Beretz, was arrested by the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office on charges of first-degree manslaughter after she turned herself in.

Deputies had been looking for Ms. Fahrenkopf, who they said was believed to be in Scranton, Pennsylvania but with ties to Middleburgh, when they asked for the public’s help in locating her.