Body found in trunk that of retired Western New York teacher

Thursday, Feb. 18, 1999 | 9:02 a.m.

A police officer in Laughlin, Nev. stopped a vehicle about 6 p.m. Tuesday after a computer check showed the car was registered to James Domm, 50, a retired elementary teacher from Pittsford, N.Y., who was reported missing on Monday.

The officer questioned the driver, Michael Bradley, 38, then opened the trunk and said he found the body.

Police Lt. Wayne Petersen said Wednesday Bradley had lived with Domm.

Bradley was booked into the Clark County Detention Center here on a murder charge.

Domm was reported missing after his landlord went to check on him Monday and found his apartment covered with blood, Petersen said. Neighbors first noticed Domm missing around Feb. 6.

The coroner's office was conducting an autopsy.

Domm died after being struck in the head, police said.

Police have not established a motive but said the killing likely occurred in the apartment that Domm and Bradley shared.

"Discussions with investigators in New York indicated they found a significant amount of blood in the victim's bedroom," Petersen said.

It was unclear when the killing occurred, but Petersen said it appears Domm had been dead "for several days, at least."

Neighbors in Pittsford called police Monday because they had not seen Domm since Feb. 7, and his car was missing. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office sent out a nationwide alert for the vehicle.

Monroe County, N.Y. Undersheriff Patrick O'Flynn said that Bradley moved in with Domm about three months ago. O'Flynn said Bradley had lived in several states, including Nevada, in recent years, but police had few details about him.

Domm taught at several schools in the Pittsford Central School District, said Cathy Alfieri, who taught with him.

"He was a very dedicated teacher," Alfieri told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

He served as the head of the Pittsford teacher center and was active in the teachers union and performed at many concerts for charity, she said.

Neighbor Susan Evans described Domm as a quiet, private man who came to many of the neighborhood association meetings and cared a lot about the people around him.

Monroe County officials will try to get Bradley extradited to face charges. If Bradley refuses to waive his right, the process could take months.