Beretz to be Sentenced Nov. 6 in Death of Man

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - Jenna Fahrenkopf, formerly known as Jenna Beretz, is scheduled to be sentenced in a Schoharie County courtroom on Thursday, November 6 on charges from the death of Jeffrey Mickle in 2023.

Beretz was found guilty on September 17 by a Schoharie County jury on various charges in the death. The sentencing is slated for 10am.

Beretz, 36, was arrested in May on charges of manslaughter in the first-degree, tampering with evidence, and assisting in the hiding of a corpse - victim Jeffrey Mickle, who was last seen on November 25, 2023, and whose body was found in Broome on November 29 of that year. The killing occurred at 151 Clauverwie Road in a house owned by Philip and Irving Skowfoe.

Beretz, who faces five to 25 years in prison, was the third person arrested in connection with the murder. Deputies had been looking for Beretz, 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. She was arrested by the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office after she turned herself in June 2024.

Michael Todtschinder of Middleburgh was acquitted in the spring of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Mr. Mickle, but was convicted of two lesser counts.

Todtschinder, 24, was on trial in Schoharie County Court in the death of Mr. Mickle, 41. Deputies discovered Mr. Mickle’s body with several apparent gunshot wounds. Todtschinder was located a few days later near Scranton, Pennsylvania and arrested.

Todtschinder was found guilty of tampering with physical evidence and concealment of a human corpse. He also was found not guilty of criminal possession of a weapon.

Walter J. Fahrenkopf, then 39, of Fulton, was also arrested 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.

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. He was sentenced last November 4 and was expected to receive a prison term of 20 years.