by Jennifer Reeger

Tribune-Review Newspaper

June 7, 2010

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a follow-up to a story we had on the site in February. This is an unusual and disturbing case, one where a half dozen young prople (ages 17 to 36) are charged with having kidnapped, tortured and killed a mentally challenged young lady in rural Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Now the Westmorland County prosecutor has decided to seek the death peanalty for three of the accused.

(for our original coverage see: PA police mum on motive in disabled woman's death)

A prosecutor will seek the death penalty against three of the six men and women charged in the torture slaying of a mentally challenged woman in Greensburg.

Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck announced today that he would seek a death sentence in the cases against Ricky Smyrnes, 23, and Melvin Knight, 20, both of 428 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg, and Amber Meidinger, 20, of 103 Indiana Drive, Greensburg.

Those three — along with Robert Loren Masters Jr., 36, and Peggy Miller, 26, both of 428 N. Pennsylvania Ave., and Angela Marinucci, 17, of 527 Mt. Pleasant St., Greensburg — are charged with homicide, kidnapping, aggravated assault and conspiracy in the death of Jennifer Daugherty, 30, of Greensburg in February.

In a news release, Peck said he made his decision based on a careful examination of the circumstances leading to Daugherty's death. Peck said the allegations that the murder occurred by means of torture and while in the perpetration of a felony were the two aggravating factors he used to seek the death penalty against the three defendants.

The six are accused of holding Daugherty against her will for as long as 33 hours inside the Pennsylvania Avenue apartment where four of them lived. They allegedly shaved her head, painted her face with nail polish and forced her to ingest various substances, including urine, vegetable oil, spices, detergent and medications.

They struck her with numerous household items, then stabbed her multiple times in the chest, authorities allege. Her body, wrapped in Christmas decorations, was placed in a plastic trash can and dumped in the parking lot at Greensburg Salem Middle School.

The six played various roles in the torture and killing, police said. Knight admitted stabbing Daugherty in the chest, side and neck, according to court papers. Smyrnes confessed that he cut Daugherty's wrist, and he implicated Knight and Meidinger in the slaying, police have said.

Bobby Murphy, the victim's stepfather, said, "We totally, 100 percent agree with the district attorney."

He said the family considers Smyrnes, Knight and Meidinger the most culpable in Jennifer's slaying.