After two decades, the hunt for a suspect in an unsolved New York homicide pivots south, with detectives eyeing Florida as the latest ground zero. The case rekindles around Clarence Carte, identified as the person of interest in the 2004 murder of Yolanda Bindics, a young mother whose life abruptly ended, leaving behind four children and a mystery that has haunted Jamestown, New York, for 20 years. ABC Action News reports that new leads have prompted an invigorated push from the Chautauqua Sheriff's Office.
Bindics' case, unsolved since her disappearance in August 2004, saw new life breathed into it when Sheriff James Quattrone's crew, having sifted through the sands of old evidence and conducted upwards of 176 interviews, landed on Carte as their main subject, according to ABC Action News. Surveillance tapes from the past have emerged showing Carte at a gas station across from Bindics' workplace on the night she went missing. Despite the passage of years, Carte's ties to Bindics remain significant, particularly as the father of her youngest child.
Clarence Carte’s whereabouts, previously a topic of speculation in Chautauqua County, have recently been linked to Citrus County, Florida. Following his 2018 arrest on a battery charge there, Carte has remained elusive, with his locations shifting frequently. FOX13 reports that Carte is currently thought to be in the Crystal River area of Citrus County.
The story of Yolanda Bindics extends beyond the pursuit of Clarence Carte and is deeply connected to the impact of her absence. Margaret Queen, Bindics' sister, has focused on addressing this void with purpose. "She was just that kind of person that if you met her, you'd never forget her," Queen told FOX13. Queen has redirected her efforts into victim advocacy and writing a book trilogy in her sister’s honor, aiming to support others dealing with loss and the ongoing search for closure.
The search for justice for Yolanda Bindics is ongoing, led by the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office. Their efforts have taken them to the south, following leads on Clarence Carte, and they are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward. Tips can be reported to the tipline at 716-703-5955.
