Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck said the death of Louis Farrell last summer remains a mystery, despite an eight-month investigation and a coroner's finding that the teenager killed himself.
Peck told reporters at a news conference yesterday that the finding of suicide is suspect, particularly in light of testimony from the 14-year-old's parents, Lauren and Doug Farrell.
Douglas Farrell found his son's body on July 22 in the woods behind their Hempfield Township home. Near the body was a gun owned by the family's next-door neighbor, state Sen. Robert Regola.
"One cannot have heard Lauren Farrell testify and Doug Farrell testify without coming to the conclusion this was a well-loved, well-cared-for, well-adjusted young man," Peck said of the Farrells' testimony during a two-day coroner's inquest last month.
"It simply is somewhat dumbfounding to declare this a suicide," he said during the press conference at the state police barracks in Greensburg.
Peck said criminal charges filed Tuesday against Regola indicated the senator intended to lie at a coroner's inquest to cloud the issue of whether the 9 mm Taurus that put a bullet into Farrell's head was readily accessible to Farrell and Regola's son, Robert "Bobby" Regola IV, who was then 16.
"It appears the senator came into that hearing with the intention of clouding the testimony, if not derailing the investigation, about how the weapon got into Louis' possession," Peck said.
After Farrell's body was discovered last summer, Peck said he didn't believe investigators had a criminal case.
"Since that time, there has been an enormous amount of investigation done by the state police that put these facts into a different light," Peck said.
Regola was arraigned yesterday on charges of perjury, allowing a juvenile to possess a weapon and recklessly endangering another person.
In a statement released yesterday afternoon, Regola said the charges are "without merit."
"I intend to do two things -- defend my innocence on all charges and continue to serve my constituents to the best of my ability," the senator said.
"Despite the cause of death having been determined a suicide, and despite my being out of town when the tragedy took place, I find charges filed against me."
State law prohibits Regola from retaining his Senate seat if he is convicted of any of the felony counts.
The first-term Republican said yesterday he will not resign from office.
"He's staying in office. That's where he belongs, in office," defense attorney Duke George said after Regola's five-minute arraignment before Greensburg District Judge James Albert.
"He's an innocent man. Why would he think about resigning⢠It is only a piece of paper. This is going to be a long process, and he will fight these charges vigorously," George added.
Albert read off the list of charges and scheduled the preliminary hearing for April 5. He set an unsecured bond for Regola at $25,000, meaning the senator was released on bail without having to post any money.
Peck refused to say whether any criminal charges would be filed in juvenile court against Regola's son.
The teen's attorney said he asked Peck directly yesterday whether any criminal charges will be filed against him.
"John hemmed and hawed around," George said. "He shook his head. Of course, I didn't expect perjury charges to be filed. If they do, we will have to address it."
Throughout the investigation, attorney Jon Perry, of Pittsburgh, who represents the Farrells, has accused the senator and his son of refusing to cooperate.
Attorneys for the Regolas have maintained that they did cooperate.
In his statement yesterday, Regola said, "Contrary to the ill-informed speculation that surfaced, I have been cooperative and candid during this investigation. Many Westmoreland County residents who keep a gun for family protection store their guns in their bedrooms never anticipating that someone might regrettably choose to search for and take that firearm."
But Peck said yesterday that Regola refused a state police request last July for a home computer, forcing investigators to obtain a search warrant.
State police Maj. Frank Monaco declined to say what police found on that computer and would not comment on whether the scene of the shooting had been tampered with.
"This is an investigation that is still ongoing. We're not going to get into that at this point," Monaco said.
The Regolas maintain that Farrell, who was a friend of Bobby Regola, killed himself.
"Certainly, as I said, you cannot know Louie Farrell from his friends, from his parents, and not question how this could be a suicide," Peck said. "There's questions out there, despite evidence putting the gun in his hands.
"If required to make a conclusion, it would be suicide. That doesn't mean it can't be reviewed or reopened in some fashion."
For Coroner Ken Bacha, the evidence points to suicide.
"We certainly considered other options," Bacha said. "One thing you can't dispute is the forensics and the physical evidence.
"Do I agree with Mr. Peck⢠Absolutely. It's difficult to believe it's a suicide, but you can't dispute what's there."
Reporter Rich Cholodofsky contributed to this story.
Additional Information:
The charges
Charges filed against state Sen. Robert Regola:* First charge of perjury: Regola is accused of falsely testifying during last month's coroner's inquest that a 9 mm Taurus handgun he owned was not kept in the bedroom of his son, Robert Regola IV. The charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
* Second count of perjury: Regola is accused of falsely testifying at the inquest that he did not tell anyone the handgun he owned had been moved from his son's bedroom because he was concerned about a vagrant in the woods behind his house.
* Third count of perjury: Regola is accused of falsely testifying at the inquest that he did not tell a state police officer that his gun had been kept in his son's bedroom and that in the early summer 2006 he moved the gun to the master bedroom after 'activities of men partying in the woods made him wary of trouble.'
* Possession of a firearm by minor: Police accused Regola of knowingly and intentionally delivering or providing a minor with a firearm that he possessed or transported. The charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
* Recklessly endangering another person: Regola is accused of keeping in his home a loaded handgun to which his 16-year-old son had access on several occasions. The charge carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.
* False swearing: Regola is accused of making a false statement under oath when he did not believe the statement to be true. The charge carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.
