Buffalo man sentenced to 20 years for fatal beating

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Buffalo man was sentenced Thursday morning to a determinate sentence of 20 years in prison after he beat another man to death last August, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office said Thursday.

James Dietz, 57, fatally beat Michael Fronczak, 66, with a lamp. Fronczak was found dead in his home on Henrietta Avenue at 4 p.m. on Aug. 17, 2024. Dietz was apprehended in South Carolina four days later. An investigation found that he had stolen Fronczak’s vehicle and wallet after committing the crime.

He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in December. Along with the 20 year sentence, he also received 5 years of post-release supervision.

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Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

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