A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the March 2025 shooting deaths of Jessica Lyman and her 8-year-old son, Eli Painter, bringing a major development to a case that remained unresolved for nearly a year and a half.
Police announced the arrest Friday after an extensive investigation into the deaths of the mother and her young son inside an apartment at 1244 N. Willowbrook Lane in Saratoga Springs.
The teenager, whose name has not been released because of his age, was booked into juvenile detention while investigators pursue two counts of first-degree murder. Authorities have not yet determined whether he will ultimately be prosecuted as a juvenile or an adult.
The shootings occurred on March 28, 2025. Police said both victims suffered gunshot wounds in what Saratoga Springs Police Chief Andrew Burton described as a violent and tragic act.
Eli died at the scene. His mother, Jessica Lyman, later died from her injuries approximately a week after the shooting.
A 17-year-old girl contacted police after discovering her mother and brother unconscious inside the residence. The teenager now under arrest was also inside the home at the time, according to authorities. Investigators said he initially told police that he had been asleep and did not hear the shooting.
The case remained under investigation for months as detectives worked to determine what happened inside the apartment.
Search warrants later unsealed in January provided additional details about evidence investigators had collected. According to those documents, clothing worn by the then-15-year-old on the day of the shootings contained evidence of gunshot residue.
Police did not make an arrest at that time and continued gathering evidence.
Investigators also learned through the warrants that the teenager had spent significant amounts of time communicating through messaging applications and had exchanged messages with others concerning the killings.
Police described his bedroom as being in a state of disarray. Investigators reportedly recovered two BB-gun pistols, plate carriers, magazine pouches and handwritten material referring to forensic evidence, including serology, DNA and firearm testing.
Another handwritten note found by investigators reportedly referenced a murder story.
Authorities also recovered .22-caliber shell casings inside the residence, according to the search warrants.
Despite those findings, investigators continued working on the case before making an arrest.
Chief Burton said detectives executed dozens of search warrants, collected hundreds of pieces of evidence, conducted numerous interviews and reviewed extensive video footage, records and other information during the investigation.
He said the complexity of the case required significant time, attention to detail and perseverance before authorities reached Friday’s arrest.
“We recognize that no arrest, prosecution or outcome can undo the pain caused by this tragedy,” Burton said, while expressing appreciation for the families’ patience and cooperation during the lengthy investigation.
He also acknowledged the difficulty caused by the absence of answers for so long.
The arrest represents a significant development for the families of Jessica and Eli, who have spent months waiting for investigators to determine who was responsible for their deaths.
However, the case is not yet resolved. The teenager remains accused, and the allegations have not been adjudicated in court. Authorities must still determine how the case will proceed and whether the suspect will face prosecution in juvenile court or as an adult.
The investigation into the March 2025 shootings remains ongoing as prosecutors and law enforcement officials continue reviewing the evidence.
For the families involved, Friday’s announcement provides a major step toward accountability, although, as Chief Burton emphasized, no legal outcome can erase the loss of Jessica Lyman and her 8-year-old son, Eli Painter.
