Elizabeth Gerling Death: On August 20, 2024, Elizabeth Gerling, a 50-year-old principal of Columbus Elementary School in Utica, New York, was found dead at her residence in Marcy. The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene at 9111 Birch Circle around 10 a.m. and discovered Gerling deceased in her bed.
Investigation and Arrest
Initial investigations indicated that Gerling’s death was suspicious, leading to her body being sent to the Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. The autopsy revealed that Gerling’s cause of death was suffocation due to strangulation, and her death was classified as a homicide. Jeremy Kirsch, a 45-year-old from Camden and Gerling’s fiancée, was identified by investigators as having been present at the residence the night before the death. After a search for Kirsch, he was located by the Rome Police Department and taken to Rome Memorial Hospital for evaluation. Following his release, Kirsch was interviewed by detectives from the criminal investigation unit.
Kirsch was subsequently arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder. He appeared in Rome City Court on August 22, 2024, where he was remanded without bond to the Oneida County Jail.
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation into Elizabeth Gerling’s death remains ongoing. Authorities are seeking any information from witnesses who saw a gray-colored 2019 Ford F350 towing a 2021 R-Pod camper between 6 and 8 a.m. on August 20. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office at (315) 765-2226. The community mourns the loss of Elizabeth Gerling, a respected principal who made a significant impact on the lives of her students and colleagues.
