A tragic sequence of events unfolded in Schenectady, New York on August 15, 2024, that left a family in ruins. Reports from authorities indicate that Jordan R. Miklowitz, aged 35, murdered his parents, David J. Miklowitz, 75, and Kathryn Miklowitz, 73, before committing suicide by jumping off the Patroon Island Bridge in Albany.
The police were called to the scene when witnesses spotted Jordan on the edge of the bridge over I-787 around 4 p.m., appearing to be on the verge of jumping. Despite the efforts of the police, Jordan plunged from the bridge, falling onto the highway beneath. He was declared dead at the scene, causing traffic on the busy interstate to be halted for several hours as the area was secured and evidence collected by investigators.
Following the suicide of Jordan, a welfare check was carried out at the Miklowitz residence on Morris Avenue in Schenectady. Officers were met with a horrifying scene: David and Kathryn had been brutally murdered, both victims of fatal blunt-force trauma. Autopsies confirmed their deaths as homicides. The precise sequence of events is still under investigation.
At around 2 p.m. earlier that day, a neighbor reported a heated argument emanating from the Miklowitz residence and dialed 911. When the police arrived, the street was quiet. However, a doorbell camera from a house across the street had managed to capture part of the dispute. The footage, reviewed by the Times Union, recorded indistinct shouting and expletive-ridden accusations. Identification of the individuals involved was impossible due to the low-quality video. Hollie Miller, the owner of the recording, informed the police that the argument continued past the recorded section, with one man blaming the other for severe financial damage. Miller handed over the footage to aid the investigation.
David and Kathryn Miklowitz were cherished by their neighbors, who described them as quiet and kind. They had resided on Morris Avenue for numerous years before relocating a few houses down the road the previous summer. The move was prompted by Kathryn’s admiration for a particular house in the neighborhood, despite the family’s hesitation to leave Kathryn’s meticulously maintained garden behind. The new occupants of the former Miklowitz home expressed their difficulty in upholding the same high standards for the garden.
On Friday, Schenectady County District Attorney Robert M. Carney confirmed the theory that Jordan Miklowitz was responsible for his parents’ murders before ending his own life. Investigators arrived at this conclusion based on the statements made by Jordan prior to his death and evidence found at the crime scene. Carney emphasized that there was no evidence suggesting the involvement of any other parties in the murders.
