Life Without Parole For Promising Hitman $15K To Kill Neighbor

ORANGE COUNTY, NY — A bizarre murder-for-hire plot that left a man dead earned lengthy prison sentences for two Hudson Valley men.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced on Friday that Damante Stansberry, 24, of Wallkill, was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison after previously pleading guilty to second degree murder.

"By the significant sentence imposed today, both individuals involved in the senseless killing of a member of our community have now been held responsible," Hoovler said on Friday. "I commend the hard work of the Town of Wallkill Police Department, all the agencies that aided them, as well as the skilled prosecutors who handled the case. My Office remains committed to the relentless pursuit of violent criminals and we will hold them to account for their actions."

On Thursday, Hoovler had announced that Enoch Lowe, 25, of Wallkill, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole following his conviction after a jury trial of all charges against him, including the crimes of first degree murder, second degree tampering with physical evidence and second degree conspiracy. The court also imposed a sentence of one and one third to four years in prison for the tampering with physical evidence charge and ordered that the sentence run consecutive to the sentence imposed on the murder charge.

"The only sentence appropriate in this case is the one imposed, which ensures this violent offender will never again be able to hurt anyone in our community," Hoovler said after Enoch's sentence on Thursday. "I offer my condolences to the victim’s family and friends and I hope that the sentence imposed renders a degree of closure. I applaud the dogged efforts of the Town of Wallkill Police Department, all the agencies that aided them, as well as the skilled prosecutors who saw the case through to the verdict that ensured justice was served."

According to court documents, Lowe hired Stansberry to kill Lowe’s neighbor, with whom Lowe had long-standing animosity. Prosecutors at Lowe's trial said that Lowe promised Stansberry $15,000 to commit the murder and acted as a lookout, informing Stansberry as to when the victim was alone, outside, and vulnerable to being attacked.

On October 30, 2022, around 5 p.m., Stansberry arrived at the home of 53-year-old Jeffrey Harris, and repeatedly stabbed the man, who was repairing a fence in the backyard of the residence.

Evidence at Lowe's trial established that Lowe sent text messages to Stansberry immediately before Stansberry left to commit the murder and had spoken to Stansberry using a cellphone as soon as Stansberry returned from committing the murder.

On March 30, 2023, Stansberry pled guilty to second degree murder in connection with the death of Harris.

An investigation conducted by the Town of Wallkill Police Department, assisted by the New York State Police, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center, the United States Secret Service and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office led to Lowe’s arrest on October 10, 2023.

The case was presented to an Orange County Grand Jury which charged Lowe with the crimes including first degree murder and second degree conspiracy.

Hoovler thanked the Town of Wallkill Police Department, and all the law enforcement agencies involved in the arrest and investigation of Lowe and Stansberry. He also highly commended Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek and Assistant District Attorney Bryan Conway who prosecuted the case.

SEE ALSO:

• Verdict On Wallkill Resident Who Hired Hitman To Kill Neighbor: DA
• Wallkill Resident Hired Man To Kill His Neighbor: DA
• Middletown Man Admits Fatally Stabbing Wallkill Man
• Middletown Man Accused Of Murder In Wallkill Stabbing