A high-profile double homicide case has officially reached the courtroom as the trial of 50-year-old Scott Mitchell commences in Broome County Court. Mitchell stands accused of killing two men at a residence on the West Side of Binghamton in early 2025, an incident that prompted an intensive multi-state search before his eventual apprehension in Florida.
Court proceedings formally advanced following the launch of jury selection on Monday, September 14, 2026, inside the Broome County Courthouse. With the jury seated, the main trial phase was scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15, marking the culmination of a lengthy legal process that spans more than a year and a half since the initial crimes occurred.
Mitchell faces two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the violent deaths of Daniel McCloe, 58, and Marshall VanOven, 55. The two victims, who were known to be acquaintances, were found deceased inside a residential property located at 11 Westwood Court in Binghamton.
The timeline of the case traces back to February 3, 2025, the day McCloe and VanOven were first reported missing to local authorities. Their sudden and unexplained disappearance quickly triggered an investigation by the Binghamton Police Department to ascertain their whereabouts and ensure their safety.
Two days later, on February 5, 2025, investigators visiting the Westwood Court address as part of their missing persons inquiries uncovered the bodies of both men inside the home. The scene prompted an immediate shift in the investigation, with police initially classifying the circumstances surrounding the two deaths as suspicious in nature.
The official confirmation of foul play came rapidly after the discovery. On February 6, 2025, a forensic pathologist completed examinations of the victims and ruled both deaths to be homicides, formally transitioning the inquiry into a full-scale double-murder investigation led by local detectives.
By February 8, 2025, detectives publicly named Mitchell as the primary suspect in the killings. Binghamton Police issued a bulletin alerting regional law enforcement and the general public, warning that Mitchell was wanted for questioning in connection with the homicides and should be considered armed and dangerous.
The search for Mitchell expanded across state lines on that same day when law enforcement located his vehicle in South Carolina. Deputies from the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office responded to a 2:00 p.m. call regarding a suspicious vehicle, quickly confirming that it was tied to the fugitive. The vehicle was impounded, and local officials issued warnings that Mitchell represented a serious threat.
Despite the vehicle's recovery in the Carolinas, Mitchell managed to continue his flight south into Florida. On February 11, 2025, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office alerted local communities that Mitchell had been identified in connection with another recovered vehicle and was believed to be navigating the West DeLand area on foot.
To accelerate the capture of the fugitive, the Binghamton Police Department partnered with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office on February 12 to offer a $10,000 reward for any critical information leading directly to Mitchell’s arrest. The reward was intended to generate immediate public tips and restrict the suspect's ability to evade detection.
The strategy produced rapid results within hours of the public announcement. Mitchell was recognized while panhandling in Daytona Beach by an observant AT&T utility technician. Recognizing the suspect from disseminated bulletins, the utility worker promptly notified local authorities of his exact location.
Deputies moved in swiftly and apprehended Mitchell without further incident. In an afternoon media briefing streamed publicly on February 12, Volusia County Sheriff Michael J. Chitwood detailed the capture, emphasizing that widespread news coverage and photos showing Mitchell’s distinctive physical traits and tattoos played a pivotal role in his identification.
Following the arrest, Binghamton detectives traveled to Florida to facilitate custody transfer and initiate the formal extradition process. Mitchell was officially transported back to New York on March 18, 2025, where he was formally taken into custody by Binghamton police and booked on two counts of second-degree murder.
The legal proceedings continued through the spring of 2025, culminating in Mitchell's arraignment in Broome County Court on May 2, 2025. During that appearance, the foundational framework for the prosecution and defense was established, setting the stage for the extended pre-trial period leading up to the trial date.
The start of the trial brings renewed attention to an event that deeply unsettled the Binghamton community in early 2025. As the trial gets underway in Broome County Court, prosecutors will present their evidence and testimony to the jury, seeking accountability for the deaths of McCloe and VanOven.
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