Accomplice in failed murder attempt at Cedar Creek Park sentenced to prison
A 21-year-old woman told a Westmoreland County judge that her emotional state from a recent romantic breakup led her to conspire with two co-workers at a fast food restaurant to kill a man in a county park.
The plan to kill 28-year-old Adam Thompkins failed, and Daryith Stevens of Jacobs Creek was sentenced Thursday to serve 4 1⁄2 to 10 years in prison for her role in the attack.
“At the time when this occurred, I had just gone through a dramatic breakup with someone I loved and was extremely emotional. I was never able to cope with my emotions very well, and I used drugs, that's exactly what I did,” Stevens said. “At that time, I didn't care about anything, not my own life and not anyone else's. I wish I could take it back, stop and think. I just wish I could go back and undo everything.”
Stevens pleaded guilty in December for her role in the 2013 Christmas Eve attack in which Thompkins was stabbed and severely injured.
Police said Stevens, along with Thompkins' wife, Kimberly, and her new boyfriend, Robert Crosby, planned the murder. Kimberly Thompkins and Robert Crosby had started a romantic relationship and sought to eliminate her husband after he had relocated to West Virginia, then returned to the area, police said.
Kimberly Thompkins, along with Crosby and Stevens, met at a Burger King in Rostraver and conceived the plot to lure Adam Thompkins to Cedar Creek Park, where he was to be fatally stabbed and his body burned.
Stevens told police her role was to bring two kitchen knives, pliers to remove his teeth and a can of gasoline to incinerate the body following the attack.
“There was no evidence she was forced to be involved with this. She drove Crosby to Cedar Creek Park, brought the knives and, when one broke, handed Mr. Crosby another knife,” District Attorney John Peck said. “She was a full and complete accomplice to this crime.”
Adam Thompkins was stabbed several times, but the murder plan was thwarted when he attempted to fight off his attackers and a park maintenance worker stumbled upon the trio as they were covered with blood.
Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani said Stevens' sentence was more lenient than the prison terms imposed on her co-defendants because she cooperated with police and had no prior criminal record.
“I do believe Ms. Stevens has demonstrated what I believe to be legitimate remorse for her actions,” Feliciani said.
Kimberly Thompkins, 28, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and conspiracy charges and was sentenced earlier this year to seven to 20 years in prison. Crosby, 26, of West Newton, pleaded guilty to the same charges and received a 7- to 15-year prison sentence.
Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.
