Murder of Jennifer Daugherty

Melvin L. Knight (born 27th October 1989)[3] was born to a drug-addicted father who was imprisoned during the early years of his life. He developed lifelong learning and social problems after he fell out of a moving vehicle and hit his head at age 5.[4]

Angela Lynn Marinucci (born 14th July 1992),[3] according to a testimony by her mother and half sister, she suffered a catastrophic head injury in 2008 when she was hit by a truck at the age of 15 that substantially altered her life. The injury changed her behavior and pushed her into a downward spiral that ended with Daugherty’s death, according to the defense. Two mental experts testified that Marinucci as a child suffered from depression and that she may have had a drug and alcohol problem as a teenager.[5]

Ricky Ven Edward Smyrnes (born 6th March 1986)[3] was born to a drug-addicted Philadelphia sex worker and a Pittsburgh gang member. He was moved into and out of foster homes as a young child and was treated for mental health disorders as early as age 4, and he suffered abuse and neglect until he was taken in by the Smyrnes family in North Huntingdon at age 10 according to a testimony by forensic psychologist Alice Applegate.[6] His lawyer, Terri Fayes, told the jury that Smyrnes suffered sexual and physical abuse from his father and his uncle. She also explained how he had undergone 103 therapy sessions by age 10, tried beer, cocaine, heroin and marijuana by age 6 and had been diagnosed with PTSD at age 8. She added he was diagnosed as having as many as seven different personalities and 15 total psychiatric issues. In 1997, he burglarized his neighbors home and stole knives, guitars, coins, bullets and cash. That same year, he sexually assaulted a woman in her basement.[7]

Several jail inmates testified that Marinucci planned to kill Daugherty several days before her body was discovered. Neighbor Anthony Zappone heard Marinucci say "I'm going to kill that bitch". He was also sentenced to jail for an unrelated burglary charge. Tina Warrick testified Marinucci told her she was disappointed with the type of Christmas garland Miller purchased to tie Daugherty up and dump her body.[12] Floria Headen heard body slamming and screaming on February 12, 2010.[18] Felisha Hardison, who was a cellmate and friend to Marinucci, testified that she was jumping on her bed, excited to be on the news.[19]

Masters and Meidinger reached a plea bargain to testify.

On April 12, 2012, Knight pleaded guilty to first- and second-degree murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit murder and kidnapping.[20] On August 30, 2012, a jury deliberated several hours before voting to put Knight to death.[21] In September 2014, Knight appealed his sentence.[22] His trial was delayed several times,[23][24][25] and his sentence was upheld in March, 2019.[26] In November 2020, Knight attempted to appeal his sentence via the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The appeal included statements and claims that jurors acted with passion and prejudice and arbitrarily imposed the death penalty. However, it was unanimously rejected by the judges.[27]

"Following our thorough review of the record in this case, we conclude that appellant’s sentence of death was not the product of passion, prejudice or any other arbitrary factor, but rather was fully supported by the evidence that (Knight) and his co-defendants held the intellectually disabled victim against her will for several days, during which time they continuously subjected her to myriad forms of physical and emotional torture, eventually stabbing her in the chest, slicing her throat (and) strangling her"

— Debra Todd, [28]

On August 3, 2011, Marinucci was formally given a mandatory life sentence without possibility of parole after being found guilty in May of first-degree murder.[29] As she was 17 at the time of the crime, she was ineligible for the death penalty.[29] Angela Marinucci had her life without possibility of parole sentence revoked due to the 2012 and 2016 supreme court rulings Miller v. Alabama and Montgomery v. Louisiana.[30][31] However, on July 1, 2015, a jury decided to re-sentence her to her previous sentence. Marinucci refused to answer any questions before she attended.[32]

On December 4, 2013, Amber Christine Meidinger (born 12 January 1990),[3] was sentenced to 40 to 80 years in prison after pleading guilty to third-degree murder, kidnapping and conspiracy.[33] Meidinger filed paperwork in November 2019 with the state's Board of Pardons, seeking early termination of her 40- to 80-year prison sentence.[34]

Amber Meidinger almost received the death penalty until she agreed to testify against the others. Westmoreland County District Attorney dropped his effort of the death penalty. Her defense attorney, Tim Dawson, questioned why she wanted to testify.[1] During the testimony, she admitted she lied about her state of her mental health. Meidinger falsely told police officers she had mental issues.[35]

Peggy Darlene Miller (born 3rd February 1983),[36][3] was sentenced to 35 to 74 years.[37]

On February 28, 2013, Smyrnes was sentenced to death. Smyrnes appealed his sentence. In February 2017, a judge upheld his death sentence.[38] His execution was delayed in July 2017.[39]

Robert Loren Masters Jr. (born 22nd December 1973)[36][3] pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit kidnapping on December 19, 2013. Masters was sentenced to 30 to 70 years. Masters' attorney, William Gallishen helped Masters reach a plea bargain against the other five. After he agreed, he was moved to another jail for protection because other suspects were being held there. He did not publicly share any information related to the plea bargain.[12]