Katy Hawelka was a 19-year-old sophomore student who died after a brutal attack On September 1, 1986, at the hands of Brian McCarthy. The incident happened on the campus of Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY.
Katherine “Katy” Hawelka was a 19-year-old Syracuse native and Clarkson University sophomore who had been raped and strangled outside the school’s ice hockey arena.
A few days later, Katy was declared brain dead by McCarthy, then 23 years old, and grew up in Parishville, about 10 miles from Potsdam. He was charged with her murder.
Table of Contents
What Happened To Katy Hawelka?
Katy Hawelka was raped and killed by Brian McCarthy in Clarkson University Ice Hockey Arena.
Katy was a Syracuse native brutally raped and murdered on the Clarkson University campus in 1986.
The crime that shocked the North Country and Central New York raised questions about campus safety and the parole hearing process.
Author William LaRue tells the story of Katy Hawelka’s death as a college sophomore on the Potsdam, New York campus.
The author explained her death turned into a decades-long campaign by her family to apprehend her killer.
Hawelka was attacked on August 29, 1986, just one day after starting her sophomore year at Clarkson.
Katy died three days later from her injuries. The attack occurred outside the university’s ice hockey arena, and two security guards were present but did not intervene.
Is Murderer Brian McCarthy Still In Prison?
Katy Hawelka murderer Brian McCarthy was arrested and sentenced to 23 years to life in prison. He is still in jail and received parole in April 2021.
Meanwhile, many advocacy groups have been raising concerns over the parole received by Brain.
According to a Facebook post, Brain is granted a parole hearing every 24 months by New York State.
It says, “We will remain vigilant as a family and present Victim Impact Statements to the parole board. This will be our seventh appearance to continue fighting for Katy’s justice.”
Katy Hawelka’s parents, Terry Ryan Taber and the late Joseph Hawelka Sr, did as much as they could to get justice for their daughter.
The attack occurred around 3:30 a.m. After the village bars closed on August 29, Katy walked back to her campus apartment with a friend.
Katy cut through a parking lot behind Walker when the two parted ways, slamming her face into the building’s facade.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7u7PRZ6WerF%2Bau3DDyKSgaK%2BYlsFutMCpp56mlZl6tbuMpJitsV2drrixy6SYZqWlp7GmvsSrZJuqmZa7brnCnJirrJiuerTAyKWjZqGeYr2ztdKopWg%3D