Press Release December 24
The New York State Police have arrested Joseph M. Pennyfeather III, age 44, of South Blooming Grove, following a homicide investigation in Orange County.
On December 23, 2025, at approximately 4:41 p.m., troopers from State Police Monroe responded to a residence on Heights Trail in the Village of South Blooming Grove for a report of an unconscious female with a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, troopers located an adult female victim suffering from a gunshot wound and apparent trauma. Life-saving measures were initiated, and the victim was transported by ambulance to Garnet Health Medical Center, where she was later pronounced deceased.
The victim has been identified as Tanzanica Dickerson, age 45.
Members of the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Forensic Investigation Unit, and Major Crimes Unit responded to the scene. The preliminary investigation determined that Pennyfeather and Dickerson cohabitated and were involved in a verbal argument that turned physical prior to the incident. An autopsy was conducted by the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office, which determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound, along with evidence of blunt force trauma. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Joseph Pennyfeather was taken into custody at the scene and subsequently arraigned in the City of Middletown Court on charges of Murder in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. He was remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail.
Pennyfeather is scheduled to appear in the Town of Blooming Grove Court on December 29, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the New York State Police at SP Monroe (845) 344-5300.