Colonie

Two town men described as heroin addicts were arrested and charged Tuesday in the August killing of Jacquelyn Porreca, the barber who was stabbed to death during a robbery of the Sand Creek Road salon where she worked.

Both men gave statements implicating themselves, police said.

Police said Michael Chmielewski, 23, of Warwick Avenue, and Sean Moreland, 32, of Kim Drive, plotted the robbery to get money "to feed their heroin habits." Both were charged with murder and robbery and were ordered held without bail at their arraignment before town Justice Andrew Sommers on Tuesday afternoon.

Moreland, who has run a construction business, has a minor criminal history that includes arrests for burglary and drug possession. Chmielewski, who received a President's Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence in 2010 from Colonie Central High School, has never been arrested as an adult, police said.

Chmielewski lives near the salon and became a focus early in the investigation when he was identified as the person in a sketch distributed by police. The artist's sketch was based on a description of a man witnesses saw running from the business after the attack.

Police said the robbery turned deadly when Chmielewski went into the salon armed with a knife while Moreland waited outside in his black Volkswagen Passat.

Neither man had ever been to the shop, which is at the intersection of Sand Creek and Russell roads, or knew Porreca, 32, who was fatally stabbed in the neck, police said.

"During the commission of the robbery, we're not exactly sure what occurred ... there, but he did ultimately end up stabbing Jacquelyn," Lt. Robert Winn said.

Winn said the names of Chmielewski and Moreland both came up early in the investigation. He said clothing that Chmielewski was believed to be wearing around the time of the robbery matched clothing that witnesses said was worn by a man seen near the shop at the time of the slaying.

Still, Winn said that police did not have enough evidence to implicate either man in the crime.

The investigation broke open Friday when someone who knows the men called detectives with new information about their alleged involvement. A law enforcement source said the person who contacted police knew both men from the drug trade and said they made incriminating statements about the homicide.

In the past several days, detectives obtained three search warrants, including one that was used to seize and search Moreland's Volkswagen sedan. The vehicle is being analyzed by a State Police forensic unit for traces of blood or other evidence.

Both men were put under surveillance early Tuesday and arrested a couple hours apart not far from their Colonie residences. Winn said Moreland was taken into custody last week for driving without a license and possession of a small amount of heroin.

Detectives questioned him about the homicide, but he was released. "Because of that interview, he opened up his mouth and was talking more out in the community," Winn said.

While Chmielewski had no documented arrests, neighbors described a frightening escalation of alleged crimes and trouble that swirled around Moreland and his apparent heroin addiction. He lived with a girlfriend and three young children and his construction business did not appear to have much work, according to neighbors.

"Drug addiction is a wicked thing. This is all unbelievably tragic," said Ned Jones, a neighbor who lives across the street.

His house was burglarized by Moreland during the day on July 29 when the family was away. Moreland was arrested that night and posted bail.

Porreca was murdered three weeks later.

Moreland was arrested so quickly in the burglary case because a neighbor witnessed him leaving the Jones house immediately following the jewelry theft and notified police. Moreland was charged with stealing jewelry from Jones' wife, and a few pieces were later recovered by police after Moreland was allegedly shown on surveillance camera footage fencing the stolen items at a local pawnshop.

"It's devastating for the Porreca family and we pray for his (Moreland's) kids," said his wife, Theresa, a teacher at St. Pius X, a Catholic school in Loudonville that Moreland's children attend.

The Jones family took the Morelands into their home for the night after they were burned out following a major fire at the Moreland's house two years ago.

"This has been going on since July with Sean and I was expecting something bad to come out. There's been a lot of commotion and trouble at his house for a long time," said another neighbor, who asked that his name not be used.

The neighbor said Moreland allegedly also burglarized a nearby elderly woman in recent days after he offered to rake her leaves and broke into the house through a window when she was out.

A Colonie police cruiser was parked outside that house Tuesday afternoon.

"He walked all around the neighborhood like he didn't have a care in the world for weeks after that beautiful girl was murdered," said the neighbor, who had his hair cut by Porreca several years ago. "Sean was a very friendly guy. I gave him rides when he had car trouble. You'd never imagine he'd have anything to do with a murder."

The same neighbor also described arguing and yelling at the Moreland house and an incident in which Moreland sped across neighbors' lawns to elude a tow truck that had come to repossess his car.

The judge set a preliminary hearing in their cases for Monday, but assistant District Attorney David Rossi told the court their cases would be presented to a grand jury Friday. Neither suspect spoke in court, and they were both shackled. Chmielewski wore a jail jumpsuit while Moreland wore a gray sweatshirt and jeans.

Ten police officers and detectives who worked on the case flanked Winn and Chief Jonathan Teale at a news conference Tuesday afternoon announcing the arrests. Porreca's relatives sat in the front row at the news conference, some choking back tears, and hugged detectives when it was over.

Police said they are not sure exactly how much money was taken, but estimate it was between $500 and $800.

"(It was) a tragic event for a small amount of money," Winn said.

Porreca died two days after she was stabbed on Aug. 21.

State Police divers searched the Washington Park Lake in Albany Tuesday afternoon for the knife believed to be used in the slaying.

Both men gave statements implicating themselves, Winn said.

Police characterized the evidence against the suspects as "overwhelming," including surveillance footage that showed Moreland's Volkswagen sedan in the area of the robbery and cell phone data.

Porreca previously worked at the Men's Room hair salon in downtown Albany and owned her own shop, Jackson Barber Shop, until it was destroyed by a fire in 2014. She went to work at Recycled Salon about a year ago, police said.

Her family was notified of the arrests shortly after the second suspect was picked up, Winn said.

"They are obviously relieved," Winn said.

Gio Falciano, Porreca's brother, told the Times Union last month his sister always saw the good in everyone.

"Her whole life, Jackie was always so selfless, always about family," he said at the time. "She always took every problem and turned it into a positive."

Police initially interviewed the victim's acquaintances, friends and family members in an attempt to generate leads.

Porreca routinely hid the cash she was paid in multiple places at the salon, police had said earlier, but Winn said Tuesday the investigation showed the money had been hidden in only one spot at the time of the robbery.

Police received a call at 3:39 p.m. that afternoon and arrived to find people trying to help Porreca. She graduated in 2002 from Windham-Ashland-Jewett High School, Greene County, and later relocated to the Albany area.

"We're absolutely pleased today to give (the family) some kind of closure," Winn said at the news conference.

blyons@timesunion.com • 518-454-5547 • @brendan_lyonstu