Central NY man found dead in bathtub after police get call of blood leaking through ceiling; man charged

Utica, N.Y. — Police in Utica made a gruesome discovery this weekend after a neighbor reported blood leaking through a ceiling.

They found a 26-year-old man shot and stabbed to death in a bathtub.

They also were greeted by a man covered in blood, according to Utica police spokesperson Lt. Matthew Curley.

The man — Colton Shaffer, 25, of Utica — was charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon in both the second and third degrees. He pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail in the Oneida County jail.

On Monday, police released the name of the victim, Neko Rayton, of Utica.

Utica police officers responded Saturday to the 100 block of Eagle Street when someone reported what looked like blood leaking through the ceiling, Curley said. Officers confirmed it was blood.

The officers went to the apartment directly above and knocked on the door. That’s when Shaffer walked out and officers detained him.

Inside, officers saw a large pool of blood. It appeared something had been dragged through the apartment, Curley said.

Officers found Rayton in the bathtub. He had been shot and stabbed multiple times, and suffered other injuries, Curley said.

Shaffer will next appear in court at 10 a.m. Friday.

Shaffer was sent to state prison in April 2021 for one to four years for burglary. He was released in September 2022. He was discharged from parole two months ago.

Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at [email protected] or @mossjon7.