Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Paulin Cerisier, 29, of Pennsylvania, was indicted for Murder in the Second Degree, and other related charges, for allegedly fatally shooting Maresse Decherson-Stevenson, 41, of Amityville, in 2021.
“This defendant is alleged to have fatally shot Maresse Decherson-Stevenson at a backyard gathering,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I commend the Suffolk County Homicide Squad detectives for not giving up on the investigation. We look forward to proving this indictment in court.”
According to the investigation, on July 18, 2021, at about 2:50 a.m., Cerisier allegedly drove to Amityville and entered a backyard party. Cerisier then covertly approached the victim, his ex-girlfriend’s uncle, and without provocation, allegedly shot him in the left shoulder before fleeing the scene. The victim was pronounced dead a short time later.
On July 15, 2024, members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad arrested Decherson-Stevenson at a hotel in Washington County, Pennsylvania.
On August 7, 2024, Cerisier was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei, for one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony, and two counts Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C felonies.
Justice Mazzei ordered Cerisier remanded during the pendency of the case. Cerisier is due back in court on September 18, 2024, and faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count. He is being represented by Christopher Gioe, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Dena Rizopoulos and Eric Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detectives Walter Sosnowski and David Gelsomino of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.