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Jury selection is set to begin today in Schenectady for the murder trial of Corydon Carlton. Carlton, a resident of Glens Falls, is accused of beating 49-year-old Renee Stratton to death inside a room at the Imperial Motel on State Street last year. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge of second-degree murder.
According to court records, Stratton was found dead on July 21, 2024, after Carlton reportedly alerted others at the motel to her death. Police discovered her body, which showed signs of blunt-force trauma, partially lying on a bed in the motel room. A witness reported hearing a commotion from the room, including a man's voice yelling, "I am going to kill you," and a woman's voice screaming for help.
At the time of his arrest, Carlton was also wanted on an outstanding warrant for aggravated harassment in an unrelated incident. He was picked up by Colonie police and later transferred to Schenectady police for questioning regarding Stratton's death. Carlton also faced charges of petit larceny for allegedly stealing cellphones on the same night as Stratton's killing.
Schenectady County prosecutor Nicolaus McDonald is leading the case, while defense attorney Kyle Davis represents Carlton. If convicted, Carlton faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison.