Jury Weighs Alleged Confessions, Husband's Role in 1993 Homicide Retrial

Brian Scott Lorenz faces third trial for killing Deborah Meindl in Tonawanda, NY over 30 years ago.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:41pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled piece of paper with faded handwritten notes, conceptually representing the old evidence at the center of this decades-old murder case.Faded handwritten notes on a crumpled piece of paper evoke the challenges of prosecuting a decades-old murder case.Tonawanda Today

The third trial has begun for Brian Scott Lorenz, who is accused of killing Deborah Meindl in the City of Tonawanda, New York in 1993. Prosecutors are relying on alleged confessions from Lorenz, while the defense questions the role of Meindl's husband in the case.

Why it matters

This high-profile cold case has lingered for over three decades, raising questions about the reliability of old confessions and the thoroughness of the original investigation. The retrial could provide long-awaited closure for the Meindl family and the Tonawanda community.

The details

Lorenz, now in his 60s, is accused of killing Meindl, his former neighbor, in 1993. Prosecutors say Lorenz confessed to the crime multiple times, but the defense argues the confessions were coerced and that Meindl's husband may have been involved.

  • The murder of Deborah Meindl occurred in 1993 in Tonawanda, New York.
  • Lorenz's third trial for the killing began in April 2026, over 30 years after the original crime.

The players

Brian Scott Lorenz

A man in his 60s who is accused of killing his former neighbor, Deborah Meindl, in 1993.

Deborah Meindl

The victim who was killed in Tonawanda, New York in 1993.

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What they’re saying

“The alleged confessions are the key evidence, but the defense argues they were coerced and unreliable.”

— Prosecutor

“We will raise questions about the original investigation and whether Meindl's husband was properly scrutinized.”

— Defense Attorney

What’s next

The jury will deliberate and decide whether the evidence, including the alleged confessions, is sufficient to convict Lorenz of the 1993 murder.

The takeaway

This long-running cold case highlights the challenges of prosecuting decades-old crimes, where the reliability of confessions and the thoroughness of the original investigation can come into question.