LOCKPORT — A Buffalo man is on his way to prison for up to the rest of his life after a chaos-filled sentencing hearing in Niagara County Court Friday morning.
Keith William Hill, 32, was in the courtroom of Judge Caroline Wojtaszek, awaiting sentencing on his guilty plea to charges of second-degree murder, aggravated criminal contempt and second-degree criminal contempt in the death of Tania Wilson when the trouble started.
As Wilson’s teenage daughter began reading a victim impact statement for Wojtaszek, a member of Hill’s family jumped up in the spectator’s gallery and began yelling at her. Wojtaszek’s courtroom was packed with members of both Wilson’s and Hill’s families at the time.
State Court officers removed his family member, which then triggered an outburst from Hill.
As members of both families began yelling at each other, Wilson’s daughter left the courtroom and the courthouse.
Additional court officers responded to restore order to the proceedings and Wojtaszek’s courtroom was cleared of spectators and Hill. After a brief recess, Hill was brought back to the courtroom but not before verbally berating his victim’s family in the courthouse hallway.
Assistant Public Defender Theodore Janese told Wojtaszek that his client was remorseful over Wilson’s murder. The judge suggested that she didn’t believe that claim.
Hill refused to speak in his own defense.
Wojtaszek sentenced Hill to 23 years to life behind bars for the domestic-related homicide. The judge had previously committed to that sentence in return for Hill’s plea.
Falls police patrol officers said they found Wilson’s body inside her home on the 2400 block of Orleans Avenue about 11 p.m. March 31, 2024, after they were called for a report of a possible domestic violence incident there.
When officers arrived at the home, they said they found four children, ranging in age from early teens to toddlers, along with the body of Wilson. Investigators said Wilson, who was pronounced dead at the scene, had suffered multiple stab wounds.
Wilson’s children are now being cared for by family members.
Falls Police Criminal Investigation Division detectives said their work on the homicide uncovered at least one prior domestic incident involving Hill and Wilson and a previous weapon possession conviction for Hill.
At the time of his arrest, on April 4, 2024, Hill was also charged on an outstanding domestic violence arrest warrant. The warrant charged Hill with a single count of second-degree criminal contempt for apparently violating an order of protection issued by a Pennsylvania court.
That order of protection had barred Hill from having any contact with Wilson. The order of protection was reportedly issued after a domestic incident between Hill and Wilson in February 2024. That charge remains pending in Pennsylvania.
Prosecutors said Hill’s previous weapon possession conviction stems from a Jan. 3, 2021, arrest on the 1700 block of Ashland Avenue.