Son of Sullivan County man allegedly killed by group of partiers demands justice 2 years without arrest
State police say 61-year-old Israel “Ira” Zolchonock was beaten and killed by a group of partiers when he asked his neighbors and their friends to turn down loud music in the middle of the night.
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The son of a Sullivan County man killed during a neighbor dispute is demanding justice for his dad now that it’s been more than two years without an arrest.
State police say 61-year-old Israel “Ira” Zolchonock was beaten and killed by a group of partiers when he asked his neighbors and their friends to turn down loud music in the middle of the night.
No arrests have been made.
“I just want justice for my dad and the residents of Sullivan County to know they have a hard-working district attorney in office,” says Marc Zolchonock.
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The Swan Lake man’s son is speaking out for the first time since his dad’s death in 2021 and exclusively with News 12.
“This was a hard-working man. Someone who just wanted to get up in the morning, and work hard to make ends meet,” says Zolchonock.
State police say witnesses at the party on Stanton Corners Road said Zolchonock walked over and used a racial slur before the deadly assault. Authorities say the witnesses identified the people involved in the fatal attack but referred questions about the investigation to Sullivan County Acting District Attorney Brian Conaty.
Conaty wasn’t in office when Zolchonock was killed but told News 12 in May that he would reach out to the family to get to the bottom of it.
The victim’s son says he hasn’t.
“I’m concerned with that,” says Zolchonock. “I’m also concerned for the residents of Sullivan County that they’ve been duped by the DA," says Zolchonock.
Conaty won the Republican primary in June and is running unopposed in November for the job.
News 12 reached out to Conaty for information about the status of the case and is waiting to hear back.
Zolchonock’s son says his father suffered a fatal blow to the back of the head and that one of the people involved in the attack has since left the state.
MORE: Loved ones call for arrests in beating death of Sullivan County man
