Charleroi man gets 2-4 years for role in 34-year-old murder
After 34 years of uncertainty, David Davoli wanted to give some closure to the family of a North Charleroi teen murdered in a remote section of Fallowfield Township, his attorney said.
In May 2010, Davoli, 54, of 1105 Meadow Ave., Charleroi, and Robert Urwin, 54, of 17 Coal St., Dunlevy, were charged with criminal homicide in the February 1977 murder of 16-year-old Mary Gency.
But Davoli ducked the homicide charge by testifying against Urwin and pleading guilty to tampering with physical evidence and hindering apprehension.
Davoli testified that Urwin beat Gency to death after the three engaged in sex and drug use. Gency, whose body was discovered by hunters on Feb. 17, 1977, died of a skull fracture.
Davoli was sentenced earlier this week to two-to-four years in jail plus two years of probation in exchange for his testimony that was a lynchpin in the conviction of Urwin.
Urwin was convicted of third-degree murder on Oct. 25, after a non-jury trial before Washington County Judge Paul Pozonsky.
He is scheduled to be sentenced by Pozonsky on Dec. 20, but he isn't facing life in prison.
Washington County District Attorney Steve Toprani said Urwin's sentencing is the final key step in the case.
He said Gency's family supported the plea arrangement with Davoli that led to his testimony.
"It was important to gain two convictions in this case," Toprani said. "Davoli's testimony was important.
"I'm pleased this chapter is closed. Hopefully, the Gency family is pleased with our efforts and can gain the closure they had not had since 1977. I'm glad it happened under my watch."
Initially, Davoli was the lone suspect charged in 1977, but the charges were dropped because of insufficient evidence.
The case remained unsolved for decades until DNA testing provided physical evidence that Urwin and Davoli had sex with Gency on the night of her murder. The two initially told authorities they were not with Gency that night.
The case was one of a handful of cold case murders that were resolved under Toprani's four-year term as district attorney.
Toprani will step down early next month after opting not to seek a second term. He plans to return to private practice with a Pittsburgh-based law firm.
"The hopes and fears of the community are in the closure of these cases," Toprani said. "Even though time passes, the files don't get dusty."
Attorney Jeff Watson, who represented Davoli, praised the efforts of prosecutors and law enforcement personnel in resolving the cold-case murder. Ultimately, Watson said, he and Assistant District Attorney Chad Schneider were able to negotiate a plea agreement that involved Davoli's testimony.
"I think Mr. Davoli testified truthfully at the trial of Mr. Urwin," Watson said. "What impact that had on the trial judge I don't know."
Ultimately, their goal was to find the truth, Watson said.
"I think this was a horrible tragedy," Watson said. "Mr. Davoli and I recognized this was a terrible tragedy for the Gency family. We can't imagine what they went through.
"Mr. Davoli wanted to come forward and tell the truth so that the Gency family could have some closure."
