Granddaughter’s boyfriend pleads guilty to murder of Cairo man

CAIRO―Drew Tyler White was not given a deal. But he pleaded guilty on Wednesday to numerous charges, including second-degree murder, for his role in the killing of his girlfriend’s grandfather.

White, 24, appeared in Greene County Court in front of Judge Charles M. Tailleur and admitted to holding down 69-year-old Roger Pitt while Rodney Pitt, the victim’s son, allegedly slashed his throat with a box cutter.

They then buried the body in a shallow grave, Greene County District Attorney Joseph Stanzione said.

It happened during the morning hours on or between October 16 and October 18 at Roger Pitt’s property at 34 Old State Highway 145, according to a grand jury indictment.

“It was alleged that [White] and Rodney Pitt came up with a plan to murder Rodney’s Pitt’s father, Roger Pitt, over an argument regarding bills that were owed, and over Roger’s disapproval of Drew White moving in with Rodney’s minor daughter,” the Greene County District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday following court proceedings.

Prosecutors also say Rodney Pitt and White cleaned up and concealed blood inside the home and destroyed the victim’s social security card, driver’s license and other identification from his wallet. The pair also allegedly removed the license plates from Roger Pitt’s 1987 Mercedes Benz and hid them within a wall of the home.

Roger Pitt was initially reported as a missing person after his sister made several calls inquiring as to the whereabouts of her brother. His remains were found on his property by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office around 1 a.m. on November 26 during the execution of a search warrant.

Charged that same morning were Rodney Pitt, 46, and White, as well as Rodney Pitt’s wife, 43-year-old Tania Pitt. They all lived alongside the victim on his one-acre lot and, according to the sheriff’s office, the statements given by Rodney Pitt and Tania Pitt during the missing person investigation conflicted with information obtained by investigators.

Tania Pitt is not believed by authorities to have actively participated in the murder. She is, however, accused of assisting her husband and White in bringing her father-in-law’s Mercedes to Calvetta's scrap yard on Cauterskill Road in Catskill on or around October 20.

All three suspects initially pleaded not guilty. Thus far, White is the first to plead guilty to the charges against him, including second-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy, tampering with physical evidence and concealment of a human corpse.

White, who remains remanded to the Greene County Jail without bail, faces 19 years to life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8.

Rodney Pitt, who is also remanded to the Greene County Jail without bail, is charged with second-degree murder, as well as second-degree conspiracy, concealment of a human corpse, four counts of tampering with physical evidence, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, sixth-degree conspiracy and third-degree perjury.  

Tania Pitt is charged with tampering with physical evidence, sixth-degree conspiracy and third-degree perjury. She is currently released pending future court appearances.