State Police arrived at the Chazy Lake murder scene in less than 30 minutes

DANNEMORA — State Police arrived at the double-murder scene Sunday in Chazy Lake in less than a half-hour.

And police say the search for the suspect began almost immediately after.

State Police were called to Timothy Carter's Route 374 home early Sunday morning after Patricia Howard called the Plattsburgh State Police barracks at 3:54 a.m. to report that her ex-boyfriend, Anthony "Tony" Pavone, was outside and refused to leave the property.

When troopers arrived, they found the couple shot to death inside the home and launched a massive manhunt for Pavone, 52, of Morrisonville.

He has still not been found.

WITHIN HALF-HOUR
"The troopers' response was less than one half-hour from when the call came in," Bureau of Criminal Investigation Capt. Robert LaFountain told the Press-Republican Wednesday.

LaFountain has said Howard was "not frantic" during the call.

There was "never indication there were any threats to her or Tim Carter," he said Wednesday.

LaFountain declined to say Wednesday where the troopers were sent from.

There's a State Police substation in Dannemora, but it is staffed only occasionally.

The Press-Republican asked Wednesday for State Police to release the 911 tape; the request is being considered.

FOLLOWING LEADS
The nationwide search for Pavone and his truck continued Thursday via land, air and water, as a number of new leads trickled in.

As of Wednesday night, Pavone had yet to be located.

"A lot of leads have been checked out and determined not to be (related)," LaFountain said.

Some of the latest leads included reports of suspicious activity and possible sightings of Pavone's vehicle, but all were ruled out.

The investigation has led police across state and international borders, but as of Wednesday night, "we obviously do not know where he is located," LaFountain said. "We cannot rule out that he is in the area or has left."

He urged residents to continue reporting any information that could be connected to the investigation.

"We appreciate the public and their concern and calling in to us to report anything suspicious or out of the ordinary.

"We are looking for any information that anyone may have."

FUNERALS
Services for Carter, 52, of Dannemora and Howard, 43, of Plattsburgh are being held this week.

Both are survived by their children and were lifelong area residents with large extended families in the area.

At the times of their deaths, Carter, an accomplished carpenter, was a civilian filter-plant operator at Clinton Correctional Facility.

Howard worked as a dental hygienist for more than 20 years.

Carter and Howard were on their second date when they were killed.

Pavone, who is a former Marine, retired from the Dannemora prison in 2007 as a correction sergeant.

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at: avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com