UTICA, N.Y. — The man charged in the 2023 killing of Utica elementary school principal Elizabeth Gerling has pled guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree manslaughter in Oneida County Court.
Jeremy Kirch, the defendant, admitted in court that he recklessly caused Gerling’s death, and that he had stopped taking prescribed psychiatric medication related to a traumatic brain injury he suffered years earlier.
The courtroom was filled with Gerling’s grieving family, friends, and colleagues from the Utica City School District, who were present to witness the proceedings. The plea deal, which avoids a full trial, was entered with the consent of Gerling’s family.
As part of the plea agreement, Kirch now faces a sentence of three-and-a-third to 10 years in state prison. His sentencing is scheduled for September 11.
The case drew significant attention in the Utica community, as Gerling was a beloved educator whose loss deeply impacted students, staff, and families across the district.
