Between July 5 and July 7, 2017, four young men were reported missing in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. All were subsequently found murdered. The victims were Dean A. Finocchiaro, age 19; Thomas C. Meo, age 21; Jimi T. Patrick, age 19; and Mark R. Sturgis, age 22.
Victims
Top row: Meo and Finocchiaro; Bottom row: Patrick and Sturgis
The murders were carried out by Cosmo DiNardo and Sean Michael Kratz, both age 20 at the time of the murders.[1] The four victims were murdered in three separate incidents, each after DiNardo arranged to sell them marijuana.[2][1]
The disappearances began on July 5, 2017, with Patrick being the first of the men to vanish. Two days later, on July 7, Meo, Finocchiaro, and Sturgis were also reported missing. Each of the four men was reported to be murdered the same day he went missing.[3]
Jimi Taro Patrick (1998–2017), a rising sophomore majoring in business[1] at Loyola University Maryland,[4] was last seen around 6:00 PM on July 5 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. He failed to show up for work the next day.[5] Patrick met DiNardo that night to buy four pounds of marijuana,[3] at which time DiNardo shot him and then used a backhoe to bury his body.[6]
Dean A. Finocchiaro (1997–2017) was last seen around 6:30 PM on July 7 being picked up by an unidentified person, possibly DiNardo or Kratz.[5] His remains were found on July 12, 2017, in a common grave on a Solebury Township farm (owned by DiNardo's parents), along with the remains of Mark Sturgis and Thomas Meo. Finocchiaro's body was the first to be identified.[7] Finocchiaro and DiNardo had a good relationship, with DiNardo saying that they were like cousins.[3] As with Patrick, Finocchiaro had agreed to buy marijuana from DiNardo. This was the first murder in which Kratz was involved; the two men both repeatedly shot Finocchiaro. His body was placed in a metal oil tank that had been converted to a pork roaster.[3]
Mark R. Sturgis (1994–2017) went to meet his friend Thomas C. Meo (January 30, 1996 – July 7, 2017) at around 6:00 PM on July 7. Both men worked for Sturgis' father's construction company. The two did not show up for work and calls to their cellphones went directly to voice mail.[5] DiNardo met with Sturgis and Meo at a church to sell Meo marijuana.[3] Meo and Sturgis were both shot as they exited their truck. When he ran out of ammunition, DiNardo drove over the still-alive Meo with a backhoe, then placed both bodies in a metal tank that also held Finocchiaro's body. DiNardo attempted unsuccessfully to burn the bodies using gasoline.[1] He used the backhoe to bury the tank containing the three bodies.[3]
DiNardo, a drug dealer, confessed to killing the four men; he said he did so because he felt cheated or threatened during drug transactions.[8] He also told investigators where to find Jimi Patrick's body, buried in another grave on the property.[6] The only motive disclosed by investigators was that DiNardo said he wanted to set the victims up when they came to the farm to buy marijuana.[9]
InvestigationEdit
On the afternoon of July 8, authorities tracked Finocchiaro's cell phone to a 90-acre (36-hectare) farm[10] in the Solebury Township owned by DiNardo's parents, Antonio and Sandra DiNardo, who also own a cement and construction company.[11]
While being investigated for the four July 2017 Pennsylvania murders, DiNardo also claimed to be responsible for at least two other killings in the previous five years in Philadelphia.[12] Investigators have yet to verify these claims.[13]
Homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, abuse of corpse, robbery, possession of instruments of crime
Second cousins[1] Cosmo DiNardo (born January 21, 1997) and Sean Michael Kratz (born February 14, 1997), both age 20, were charged in the murders.
On July 10, DiNardo was arrested for an unrelated weapons charge.[5] Despite 30 run-ins with local police, DiNardo, the son of a wealthy businessman, had for unexplained reasons never been convicted of a crime.[14] DiNardo was later released after his father posted 10% of the $1 million bail.[1]
On July 12, DiNardo was arrested and charged for stealing and attempting to sell a car that belonged to Thomas Meo for $500.[15] Suspicion was also raised by the fact that Meo left his insulin in the car, something his family said would have been unusual for him to do.[15] His bail was set at $5 million. The next day, DiNardo confessed to the murder of the four men. In exchange for his confession, prosecutors stated that they would not seek the death penalty.[1]
The day after his confession, DiNardo was charged with four counts of criminal homicide, conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, and 12 other charges.
On July 14, Sean Michael Kratz was also charged with three counts of criminal homicide, conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, and two other charges.[16] Unlike DiNardo, Kratz had a criminal history of burglary, conspiracy, criminal trespassing, theft, receiving stolen property, and criminal mischief.[1]
On May 16, 2018, DiNardo pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.[17][18] Later that day, Kratz rejected a plea deal of 118 years with the possibility of parole after serving 59 years. His trial was scheduled for 2019.[19]
On November 15, 2019, Kratz was convicted of first- and second-degree murder in the death of Dean Finocchiaro and voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of Tom Meo and Mark Sturgis and was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.[20][21]
^ abcdefghLevenson, Eric (July 14, 2017). "Cousins charged in homicides of four Pennsylvania men". CNN. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
^McCrone, Brian (July 14, 2017). "Cosmo DiNardo, Sean Kratz Charged With Allegedly Killing Young Men at Bucks County Farm". WCAU. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
^ abcdef"Two Men Charged With Homicide in Four Solebury Slayings". Bucks County District Attorney's Office. July 14, 2017.
^"The Latest: Maryland campus vigil held for 4 missing men". FOX News. Associated Press. July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
^ abcdHaag, Matthew (July 10, 2017). "Search in Pennsylvania for 4 Missing Men Focuses on a Vast Farm". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
^ abLevenson, Eric (July 16, 2017). "10 days of horror: The killings that stunned small-town Pennsylvania". CNN. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
^Babay, Emily (July 13, 2017). "Bucks County missing men: Who they are". Philly.com. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
^Gmiter, Tanda (July 14, 2017). "Suspect in Pennsylvania slaying of 4 men burned bodies in a drum after drug deals, source said". MLive.
^Dale, Maryclaire; Izaguirre, Anthony (July 14, 2017). . Delaware County Daily Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2017.
^Parker, Graham (July 13, 2017). "Man admits to killing four youths who went missing in Pennsylvania". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
^Chavez, Nicole; Levenson, Eric; Woolsey, Anne; Grinberg, Emanuella (July 13, 2017). "Lawyer: Man admits involvement in murders of 4 missing men". CNN. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
^Holden, Joe (July 17, 2017). "Sources: Cosmo DiNardo Confesses To 2 Other Killings". KYW-TV. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
^Bacon, John (July 18, 2017). "Pennsylvania murders: Did pot dealer kill any others?". USA Today. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
^Hurdle, Jon (July 13, 2017). "Man Admits to Killings of 4 Missing Men in Pennsylvania, Lawyer Says". New York Times. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
^ abO'Malley, James (July 13, 2017). "Cosmo DiNardo defense attorney says client confessed to 'participation in murders of four young men'". Bucks County Courier Times. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
^McCausland, Phil (July 14, 2017). "Cosmo Dinardo, Sean Michael Kratz Charged With Killing Four in Pennsylvania". NBC News. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
^Holden, Joe (May 16, 2018). "Sean Kratz Rejects Plea Deal, Cosmo DiNardo Pleads Guilty To Murder Charges In Deaths Of 4 Men". KYW-TV. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
^McCrone, Brian; Lozano, Alicia Victoria (May 16, 2018). "1 Bucks County Killer Pleads Guilty, Another Could Face Death Penalty for Murder Spree". WCAU. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
^McCarthy, Erin (July 31, 2018). "Families of Cosmo DiNardo's victims stand with lawmakers pushing for tougher gun laws". Philly.com. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
^"Sean Kratz Sentenced To Life In Prison Without Parole After Bucks County Prosecutors Take Death Penalty Off Table". CBS Philly. November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
^"Prosecutors Won't Seek Death Penalty Against Sean Kratz After Conviction for 2017 Bucks Co. Farm Slayings". NBC Philadelphia. November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
External linksEdit
Criminal Complaint: Cosmo DiNardo
Criminal Complaint: Sean Michael Kratz
October 31, 2023
july, 2017, pennsylvania, murders, between, july, july, 2017, four, young, were, reported, missing, bucks, county, pennsylvania, united, states, were, subsequently, found, murdered, victims, were, dean, finocchiaro, thomas, jimi, patrick, mark, sturgis, victim. Between July 5 and July 7 2017 four young men were reported missing in Bucks County Pennsylvania United States All were subsequently found murdered The victims were Dean A Finocchiaro age 19 Thomas C Meo age 21 Jimi T Patrick age 19 and Mark R Sturgis age 22 VictimsTop row Meo and Finocchiaro Bottom row Patrick and SturgisLocationBucks County Pennsylvania U S DateJuly 5 7 2017Attack typeShooting murderDeaths4VictimsDean A Finocchiaro age 19 Thomas C Meo age 21 Jimi T Patrick age 19 Mark R Sturgis age 22The murders were carried out by Cosmo DiNardo and Sean Michael Kratz both age 20 at the time of the murders 1 The four victims were murdered in three separate incidents each after DiNardo arranged to sell them marijuana 2 1 Contents 1 Murder victims 2 Investigation 3 Arrests 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksMurder victims EditThe disappearances began on July 5 2017 with Patrick being the first of the men to vanish Two days later on July 7 Meo Finocchiaro and Sturgis were also reported missing Each of the four men was reported to be murdered the same day he went missing 3 Jimi Taro Patrick 1998 2017 a rising sophomore majoring in business 1 at Loyola University Maryland 4 was last seen around 6 00 PM on July 5 in Newtown Pennsylvania He failed to show up for work the next day 5 Patrick met DiNardo that night to buy four pounds of marijuana 3 at which time DiNardo shot him and then used a backhoe to bury his body 6 Dean A Finocchiaro 1997 2017 was last seen around 6 30 PM on July 7 being picked up by an unidentified person possibly DiNardo or Kratz 5 His remains were found on July 12 2017 in a common grave on a Solebury Township farm owned by DiNardo s parents along with the remains of Mark Sturgis and Thomas Meo Finocchiaro s body was the first to be identified 7 Finocchiaro and DiNardo had a good relationship with DiNardo saying that they were like cousins 3 As with Patrick Finocchiaro had agreed to buy marijuana from DiNardo This was the first murder in which Kratz was involved the two men both repeatedly shot Finocchiaro His body was placed in a metal oil tank that had been converted to a pork roaster 3 Mark R Sturgis 1994 2017 went to meet his friend Thomas C Meo January 30 1996 July 7 2017 at around 6 00 PM on July 7 Both men worked for Sturgis father s construction company The two did not show up for work and calls to their cellphones went directly to voice mail 5 DiNardo met with Sturgis and Meo at a church to sell Meo marijuana 3 Meo and Sturgis were both shot as they exited their truck When he ran out of ammunition DiNardo drove over the still alive Meo with a backhoe then placed both bodies in a metal tank that also held Finocchiaro s body DiNardo attempted unsuccessfully to burn the bodies using gasoline 1 He used the backhoe to bury the tank containing the three bodies 3 DiNardo a drug dealer confessed to killing the four men he said he did so because he felt cheated or threatened during drug transactions 8 He also told investigators where to find Jimi Patrick s body buried in another grave on the property 6 The only motive disclosed by investigators was that DiNardo said he wanted to set the victims up when they came to the farm to buy marijuana 9 Investigation EditOn the afternoon of July 8 authorities tracked Finocchiaro s cell phone to a 90 acre 36 hectare farm 10 in the Solebury Township owned by DiNardo s parents Antonio and Sandra DiNardo who also own a cement and construction company 11 While being investigated for the four July 2017 Pennsylvania murders DiNardo also claimed to be responsible for at least two other killings in the previous five years in Philadelphia 12 Investigators have yet to verify these claims 13 Arrests EditCosmo DiNardoBorn 1997 01 21 January 21 1997 age 26 Bensalem Pennsylvania U S Criminal chargeHomicide conspiracy to commit homicide abuse of corpse robbery possession of instruments of crimeSean Michael KratzBorn 1997 02 14 February 14 1997 age 26 Bensalem Pennsylvania U S Criminal chargeHomicide conspiracy to commit homicide abuse of corpse robbery possession of instruments of crimeSecond cousins 1 Cosmo DiNardo born January 21 1997 and Sean Michael Kratz born February 14 1997 both age 20 were charged in the murders On July 10 DiNardo was arrested for an unrelated weapons charge 5 Despite 30 run ins with local police DiNardo the son of a wealthy businessman had for unexplained reasons never been convicted of a crime 14 DiNardo was later released after his father posted 10 of the 1 million bail 1 On July 12 DiNardo was arrested and charged for stealing and attempting to sell a car that belonged to Thomas Meo for 500 15 Suspicion was also raised by the fact that Meo left his insulin in the car something his family said would have been unusual for him to do 15 His bail was set at 5 million The next day DiNardo confessed to the murder of the four men In exchange for his confession prosecutors stated that they would not seek the death penalty 1 The day after his confession DiNardo was charged with four counts of criminal homicide conspiracy to commit criminal homicide abuse of a corpse and 12 other charges On July 14 Sean Michael Kratz was also charged with three counts of criminal homicide conspiracy to commit criminal homicide abuse of a corpse and two other charges 16 Unlike DiNardo Kratz had a criminal history of burglary conspiracy criminal trespassing theft receiving stolen property and criminal mischief 1 On May 16 2018 DiNardo pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole 17 18 Later that day Kratz rejected a plea deal of 118 years with the possibility of parole after serving 59 years His trial was scheduled for 2019 19 On November 15 2019 Kratz was convicted of first and second degree murder in the death of Dean Finocchiaro and voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of Tom Meo and Mark Sturgis and was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole 20 21 See also EditCrime in Pennsylvania List of people who disappearedReferences Edit a b c d e f g h Levenson Eric July 14 2017 Cousins charged in homicides of four Pennsylvania men CNN Retrieved July 15 2017 McCrone Brian July 14 2017 Cosmo DiNardo Sean Kratz Charged With Allegedly Killing Young Men at Bucks County Farm WCAU Retrieved July 14 2017 a b c d e f Two Men Charged With Homicide in Four Solebury Slayings Bucks County District Attorney s Office July 14 2017 The Latest Maryland campus vigil held for 4 missing men FOX News Associated Press July 12 2017 Retrieved July 14 2017 a b c d Haag Matthew July 10 2017 Search in Pennsylvania for 4 Missing Men Focuses on a Vast Farm The New York Times Retrieved July 13 2017 a b Levenson Eric July 16 2017 10 days of horror The killings that stunned small town Pennsylvania CNN Retrieved April 16 2021 Babay Emily July 13 2017 Bucks County missing men Who they are Philly com Retrieved July 13 2017 Gmiter Tanda July 14 2017 Suspect in Pennsylvania slaying of 4 men burned bodies in a drum after drug deals source said MLive Dale Maryclaire Izaguirre Anthony July 14 2017 Source Cosmo DiNardo said he had accomplice in killing of 4 in Bucks Delaware County Daily Times Archived from the original on July 14 2017 Parker Graham July 13 2017 Man admits to killing four youths who went missing in Pennsylvania The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved July 16 2017 Chavez Nicole Levenson Eric Woolsey Anne Grinberg Emanuella July 13 2017 Lawyer Man admits involvement in murders of 4 missing men CNN Retrieved July 16 2017 Holden Joe July 17 2017 Sources Cosmo DiNardo Confesses To 2 Other Killings KYW TV Retrieved July 21 2017 Bacon John July 18 2017 Pennsylvania murders Did pot dealer kill any others USA Today Retrieved July 21 2017 Hurdle Jon July 13 2017 Man Admits to Killings of 4 Missing Men in Pennsylvania Lawyer Says New York Times Retrieved July 14 2017 a b O Malley James July 13 2017 Cosmo DiNardo defense attorney says client confessed to participation in murders of four young men Bucks County Courier Times Retrieved July 13 2017 McCausland Phil July 14 2017 Cosmo Dinardo Sean Michael Kratz Charged With Killing Four in Pennsylvania NBC News Retrieved July 14 2017 Holden Joe May 16 2018 Sean Kratz Rejects Plea Deal Cosmo DiNardo Pleads Guilty To Murder Charges In Deaths Of 4 Men KYW TV Retrieved May 17 2018 McCrone Brian Lozano Alicia Victoria May 16 2018 1 Bucks County Killer Pleads Guilty Another Could Face Death Penalty for Murder Spree WCAU Retrieved May 17 2018 McCarthy Erin July 31 2018 Families of Cosmo DiNardo s victims stand with lawmakers pushing for tougher gun laws Philly com Retrieved September 29 2018 Sean Kratz Sentenced To Life In Prison Without Parole After Bucks County Prosecutors Take Death Penalty Off Table CBS Philly November 18 2019 Retrieved November 19 2019 Prosecutors Won t Seek Death Penalty Against Sean Kratz After Conviction for 2017 Bucks Co Farm Slayings NBC Philadelphia November 18 2019 Retrieved November 19 2019 External links EditCriminal Complaint Cosmo DiNardo Criminal Complaint Sean Michael Kratz Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title July 2017 Pennsylvania murders amp oldid 1139828016, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
