Cosmo DiNardo being led to a sheriff’s office van Thursday evening in Doylestown.
Credit: Jason Wood
In a shocking twist, a defense attorney for 20-year-old Bensalem resident Cosmo DiNardo admitted early Thursday evening that his client had a role in the “murders of four young men.”
Defense attorney Paul Lang made the startling announcement around the same time sources close to the investigation confirmed to NewtownPANow.com that new developments in the case would “bear fruit.”
The confession from the 20-year-old Bensalem man, who suffers from mental illness, is in exchange for prosecutors not pushing for the death penalty, Lang said.
The defense attorney said DeNardo “confessed to his participation.” He did not state whether anyone else was involved in the homicides.
DiNardo, according to law enforcement sources, was expected to tell police where the bodies were located, which Lang confirmed he has done.
DiNardo confessed in return for no death penalty, defense attorney said. pic.twitter.com/NbxSO1pHXI
— James Boyle (@jamesboylejr) July 13, 2017
The announcement came after a grand jury was called in connection with the case. Subpoenas for the secret grand jury were handed out earlier this week as police looked for information into the disappearances of Dean Finocchiaro, 19, of Middletown,Tom Meo, 21, of Plumstead, Mark Sturgis, 22, of Pennsburg, Montgomery County and Jimi Patrick, 19, of Newtown Township.
On Wednesday night, Finocchiaro’s body was dug up from the DiNardo’s 68-acre property off Route 202 in Solebury Township. District Attorney Matt Weintraub said more bodies were believed to be buried at the location.
DiNardo is in the Bucks County Correctional Facility on $5 million cash bail on charges he was connected to cars linked to the search for the missing men.
On Wednesday afternoon, DiNardo said he was “sorry” to reporters as he was led out of the Bucks County Detective’s offices in Doylestown.
Police and federal authorities found human remains, including Finocchiaro, in a 12-foot-deep trench just off a gravel road that traverses the DiNardo family’s large property. The digging at the site started Tuesday afternoon and reached a fever pitch Wednesday evening when the remains were discovered.
Law enforcement used sifters to check the dirt for evidence and Bucks County Detectives employed cameras to document the scene. Large tents were put up to cover the area and remained in place Thursday evening.
Family members of the missing young men were being briefed by Bucks County authorities on the latest in the case.
