HONEOYE FALLS, NY – Authorities in Monroe County have charged a local woman with the murder of her older sister, a case that has sent shockwaves through the small Upstate New York community.

Jamie Busch, 53, is accused of killing her sister, 62-year-old Penny Busch, in a violent confrontation at Penny’s home on Ontario Street, just beyond the limits of Honeoye Falls. The alleged incident unfolded on October 8, 2024, during what investigators described as a physical altercation between the siblings.

According to court records, after the fatal dispute, Jamie Busch is believed to have taken steps to conceal evidence related to her sister’s death. Early the following morning, she allegedly collected three cellphones belonging to Penny and disposed of them in a public trash receptacle located at a Dunkin’ Donuts in the village.

Investigators say the days after Penny Busch’s death were marked by further attempts to cover up the crime. Evidence suggests her body was removed from the residence and later discarded in the Genesee River, about 10 miles away, though authorities have not disclosed the means by which it was transported.

On October 11, Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies carried out a welfare check at Penny Busch’s eight-acre property after she was reported missing. The initial investigation raised immediate concern due to what officials described as suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Search teams deployed K-9 units and drones to canvass the large rural property and surrounding areas.

Three days into the search, investigators received information directing their efforts to a section of the Genesee River in the nearby Town of Rush. It was there that authorities recovered a woman’s body, later confirmed through forensic examination to be Penny Busch.

After gathering what they described as substantial evidence, sheriff’s detectives secured an arrest warrant for Jamie Busch. She was charged with second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence. Officials have declined to comment publicly on the motive for the slaying, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation, and have indicated further details will not be released until prosecutors decide the time is appropriate.

Sheriff’s officials described the case as particularly disturbing due to the familial connection and the steps allegedly taken to hide the crime. Community members expressed disbelief as details came to light, noting that both sisters were long-time residents.

Jamie Busch, a paraprofessional at Honeoye Falls Middle School prior to her arrest, has since been declared mentally competent to face trial. Legal proceedings are scheduled to commence on February 3, 2026.

Honeoye Falls, a close-knit community roughly 18 miles south of Rochester, has been unsettled by the tragedy. The case remains active as authorities continue to examine evidence and prepare for trial.