### J - S18010 - 18

NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENN SYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellee v. BILLY RAY GORDON Appellant No. 897 WDA 2017 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered May 25 , 2017

In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Criminal Division at No . : CP - 25 - CR - 0003070 - 2016 BEFORE: STABILE, MUSMANNO, JJ., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E. MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J.: FILED JULY 12, 2018 Appellant Billy Ray Gordon appeals from the May 25, 2017 judgment of sentence entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County (“trial court”), following his jury convictions for first - degree murder, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person (“REAP”), possession of instruments of crime (“PIC”), abuse of a corpse, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. 1 

### Upon review, we affirm. The fact s and procedural history of this case are undisputed, and thoroughly recounted in the trial court’s opinion. See Trial Court Opinion, 8/8/17, 1 - 13. Briefly, in connection with the stabbing death of his wife, Linda

_________________ ____________________ _______
1 

### 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2501(a), 2702(a)(1), 2705, 907(a), 5510, and 4910(1), respectively.

### J - S18010 - 18

- 2 -

Gordon, Appellant was found guilty by a jury of the above - mentioned crimes. On May 25, 2017, the trial court sentenced Appellant to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. 2 

### Appellant did not file any post - sentence motions. Appellant timely appealed to this Court. The trial court directed Appellant to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement of errors complained of on appeal. Appellant complied, asserting, inter alia : [I.] That the evidence produced at trial by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was insufficient to support convictions in this matter with first degree murder (Murder 1), aggravated assault, [REAP], [PIC], abuse of corpse and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence[.] Rule 1925(b) Statement, 7/7/17 (unnecessary capitalizations omitted) (sic). In response, the trial court issued a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion. On appeal, Appellant repeats the same sufficiency - of - the - evidence issue for our review. “A claim challenging the sufficiency of the evidence is a question of law.” Commonwealth v. Widmer , 744 A.2d 745, 751 (Pa. 2000). The standard we apply in reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence is whether viewing all the evidence admitted at trial in the light most favorable to the verdict winner, there is sufficient evidence to enable the fact - finder to find every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. In applying the above test, we may not weigh the evidence and substitute our judgment for the fact - finder. In addition, we note that the facts and circumstances established by the Commonwealth need not preclude ev ery possibility of innocence. Any doubts regarding a defendant’s guilt may be resolved by the fact - finder unless the evidence is so weak and

_________________ ____________________ _______ 2 

### The trial court merged the sentences for aggravated assault and REAP with the life imprisonment sentence for first - degree murder and imposed separate consecutive sentences for PIC (one to four years in prison), abuse of corpse (o ne to two years in prison) and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence (six to twenty - four months’ imprisonment).

### J - S18010 - 18

- 3 -

inconclusive that as a matter of law no probability of fact may be drawn from the combined circumstances. The Com monwealth may sustain its burden of proving every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt by means of wholly circumstantial evidence. Moreover, in applying the above test, the entire record must be evaluated and all evidence actually received must be considered. Finally, the finder of fact while passing upon the credibility of witnesses and the weight of the evidence produced, is free to believe all, part or none of the evidence. Commonwealth v. Antidormi , 84 A.3d 736, 756 (Pa. Super. 2014), appeal denied , 95 A.3d 275 (Pa. 2014). Before we may address the merits of Appellant’s sufficiency claim, we must determine whether he has preserved it for our review. It is settled that to preserve a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal, the appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement must state with specificity the element or elements of the crime upon which the appellant alleges the evidence was insufficient. See Commonwealth v. Garland , 63 A.3d 339, 334 (Pa. Super. 2013). “Such specificity is of particular importance in cases, where, as here, the appellant was convicted of multiple crimes each of which contains numerous elements that the Commonwealth must prove beyond a reasonable doubt.” Garland , 63 A.3d at 344 (citations omitted). In Garland , the appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement simply stated, “[t]he evidence was legally insufficient to support the convictions.” Id. The panel found the claim waived, noting, among other things, that the appellant “failed to specify which elements he was chal lenging in his Rule 1925(b) statement.” Id. Moreover, given this Court’s desire to apply Rule 1925 in a “predictable, uniform fashion,” we have determined that waiver applies even where, as here, the Commonwealth fails to object and the trial court addre sses the issue in its

### J - S18010 - 18

- 4 -

Rule 1925(a) opinion. Commonwealth v. Roche , 153 A.3d 1063, 10 71 - 72 (Pa. Super. 2017) , appeal denied , 169 A.3d 599 (Pa. 2017) ; see Commonwealth v. Tyack , 128 A.3d 254, 260 (Pa. Super. 2015) (holding that Tyack’s “boilerplate” concise statement declaring “that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction” was too vague even where Tyack was convicted only of one crime). Instantly, Appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement, as detailed above, lacks specificity. In particular, App ellant fails to set forth in his Rule 1925(b) statement the elements of each of the six crimes that the Commonwealth allegedly did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt following a four - day jury trial. Accordingly, we conclude that Appellant has waived his sufficiency - of the - evidence claim for lack of specificity. Indeed, as noted, we have held appellants waived such claims for lack of specificity under less egregious circumstances. Even if Appellant’s sufficiency claim was preserved , he still would not be entitled to relief. After careful review of the record and relevant case law, we conclude that the trial court accurately and thoroughly addressed the merits of Appellant’s claim. See Trial Court Opinion, 8/8/17, at 13 - 20. Accordingly, we affirm Appe llant’s judgment of sentence. We further direct that a copy of the trial court’s August 9, 2017 opinion be attached to any future filings in this case. Judgment of sentence affirmed.

### J - S18010 - 18

- 5 -

Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 7/12/2018C i r cu l a t e d 0 6 / 2 8 / 2 0 1 8 0 3 : 5 8 P M 

# )
C O M M O N W E A L T H O F P ENN S Y L V A N I A


### v . IN T H E C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S O F 

### E RIE C O UN T Y , P ENN S Y L V A N I A C RI M IN A L D I V I S I O N BI L L Y R A Y G O RD O N , D e f e n d an t N O
. C R 3 0 7 0 o f 2 0 1 6
Ap p e aran c e s : E m i l y 

### M
. M e r s k i , E s q . , o n b e h a l f o f B ill y R ay G o r d o n ( Ap p e ll an t )



### O P I N I O N E r i n C
. C o nn e ll y , A s s i s t an t D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y , an d D
. R o b e rt M ari o n , Jr . , A s s i s t an t D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y , o n b e h a l f o f th e C o mm o nw e al th ( Ap p e ll e e ) � ( ") ('" ) co ; .. rri r ...... r r ; :::o fTl r ri � zr

. - :::0 i I 

### c::: M ::,::: : .:: G") :X 

### D . . h J 

### A g th 2 0 

### 7 - P l , ,.. ) o nutr o v i c , . , u g u s t , I � � n 00 ' -: · , C .;;> ..., t--> c, c � ,,, . . T h e i n s t an t m att e r i s c ur r e n tl y b e fo r e th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p e r i o r C o urt o @ @ � � p p e'a 1 o f [ th e 0 ::0 

### - < u, C ._ .,

_ . • • ;.. 1 B ill y R ay G o r d o n ( h e r e a ft e r r e f e r r e d t o a s " Ap p e ll an t " )
. F o ll o w i n g a C r i m i n a l J 6 fy T r i � w h i c h b e g an o n M ar c h 2 ?1 1 

### 1, 2 0 1 7 thro u g h M ar c h 3 0 11 ', 2 0 1 7 , th e 

### j ury fo un d Ap p e 11 ant g u i lty o f M ur d e r
o f th e F i r s t D e g r e e , A g g r av at e d A s s au l t , R e c k l e s s l y E n d an g e r i n g A n o th e r P e r s o n , P o s s e s s i o n o f I n s trum e n t s o f C ri m e an d T amp e r i n g w i th o r F a b r i c at i n g P hy s i c a l E v i d e n c e . O n a p p e a l , Ap p e ll an t
ra i s e s tw o i s s u e s : 

### [ l ] w h e th e r th e C o mm o nw e a l th p r e s e n t e d s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o rt th e j ur y ' s c o nv i c t i o n o f Ap p e ll an t fo r M ur d e r o f th e Fi r s t D e g r e e , A g g rav at e d A s s au l t , R e c k l e s s l y E n d an g e r i n g A n o th e r P e r s o n , P o s s e s s i o n o f In s trum e n t s o f C r i m e an d T amp e r i n g w i th o r F ab r i c at i n g P hy s i c a l E v i d e n c e , an d [ 2 ] w h e th e r Ap p e ll an t ' s c o un s e l , M ark T
. D e l D u c a , E s q . , r e p r e s e n t e d Ap p e ll an t e ff e c t i v e l y d ur i n g th e C r i m i n a l Jur

y T r i a l. 

### F a c t u a l H i s t o ry O n Ju l y 2 1 5 

### 1, 2 0 1 6 , ar o un d 5 : 0 0 p . m . , a w i tn e s s , M ark D o d i c k , o b s e rv e d Ap p e ll an t arr i v i n g
at th e r e s i d e n c e o f T e r

ran c e P o rt e r o n W e s t 2 5 1 h S tr e e t. S e e N o t es o f T es t i m o n y, J u r y 

### Tr i e d
. D a y 

### 2 , M a rc h 2 8 1 h
. 2 0 17

. 

### pg . 3 2 7 , li n es 9

- 2 4
. M r . D o d i c k o b s e rv e d Ap p e l l an t w e ar i n g a w h i t e : t - s h i rt wi th b l o c k l e tt e r i n g an d w h i t e p an t s . S e e i d , 

### pg . 3 3 0, l i n es 11

- 2 1
. Ap p e ll ant an d h i s 

### w i fe , L i n d a G o r d o n , ar

ri v e d at M r . P o tt e r ' s r e s i d e n c e i n th e i r s i l v e r C a d ill a c v e h i cl e t o p ur c h a s e h e r o i n . 

### S e e 1N

o tes o f T es ti m o n y, J u r y T r i a l , D a y 3 , M a rc h 2 9 1 1, , 2 0 1 7

, pg. 7 1 6 , li n e 1 8

-

p g. 7 1 7 , li n e 6
. L at e r th at e v e n i n g , M r. P o rt e r s aw Ap p e ll an t an d h i s w i fe , L i n d a G o r d o n , at th e b l o c k p arty n e ar th e P l y m o uth T av e rn , l o c at e d o n l 0 1 11 S tr e e t an d S t at e S tr e e t. S e e N T , J u r y T r i a l , D a y 2 , pg . 3 5 3 , li n e 1 5 - pg . 3 5 4, li n e 1 ; p g. 3 5 5 , l i n es 8

- 1 0
. M r. P o rt e r o b s e rv e d Ap p e ll an t w e ari n g a w h i t e t - s h i rt
w i th b l o c k l e tt e r i n g , w h i t e p an t s an d b l a c k & w h i t e s n e ak e r s . S e e i d , p g. 3 5 4, li n es 13

- 1 9
. S urv e ill an c e v i d e o fo o t a g e fr o m th e P l y m o uth T av e rn s h o w s Ap p e ll an t e n t e r i n g th e b ar at 9 : 1 3 p . m . an d e x i t i n g th e b ar at 9 : 1 6 p . m . , w e ar i n g a b a s e b a ll c a p , l i g h t & d ark c o l o r e d s h o e s , w hi t e j e an s / p an t s an d a w h i t e t - s h i rt w i th b l o c k l e tt e r i n g s t at i n g " S tr a i g h t O utt a E r i e . " S e e N T , J u r y T r i a l , D a y 3 , pg . 63 3 , li n e 2 1

-

p g. 63 6 , li n e 1 5
. M r. P o i t e r c a ll e d Ap p e ll an t aro un d 1 1 : 3 0 p . m . th at e v e n i n g fo r a r i d e , b ut Ap p e ll an t s t at e d h e w a s " b u s y p i c k i n g u p h i s g ran d c h i l dr e n . " S

e e N T , J u r y T r i a l , D a y 2 , pg . 3 5 6 , li n es 3

- 2 0
. O n Ju l y 2 2 n d , 2 0 1 6 , at 8 :4 2 a . m . , S e r g e an t K e v i n F r i e s , C i ty o f E r i e P o l i c e D e p artm e n t , w a s d i s p at c h e d t o 1 5 2 5 E a s t 1 9 1 11 S tr e e t , E r i e , P e nn s y l v an i a fo r a r e p o rt o f a d e c e a s e d p e r s o n . S e e i d, pg. 2 2 0, li n e 2 4 - p g. 2 2 1 , li n e 1 9
. T h e d i s p at c h w a s i n r e s p o n s e t o a 9 1 1 c a ll e r , S u s an C arr,
w h o o b s e rv e d a d e c e a s e d w h i t e fe m a l e l y i n g o n th e g ra s s y ar e a n e ar a w o o d e n fe n c e o n th e s o uth
s i d e o f E a s t 1 9 t h S tr e e t. S e e i d , pg . 2 2 2 , li n es 11

- 1 7

. Up o n ar

r i v i n g o n s c e n e , S e r g e an t F r i e s
n o t i c e d th e d e c e a s e d fe m a l e , w e ar i n g a p ur p l e s h i rt an d j e an s , l y i n g o n th e g ra s s y ar e a o n th e
s o uth s i d e o f E a s t 1 9 t h S tr e e t. S e e i d , pg. 2 2 5 , li n es 1 4

- 2 4
. S e r g e an t F r i e s o b s e rv e d th e d e c e a s e d
w h i t e fe m a l e h a d s e v e ra l s t ab w o un d s o n h e r b a c k an d i mm e d i at e l y c a ll e d fo r E m e r g y C ar e . S e e i d , 

### pg . 2 2 6 , li n es 2

- 4
. D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t C h r i s t o p h e r Janu s an d D e t e c t i v e M i k e H e rt e l , C i ty o f E r i e P o l i c e D e p artm e n t , a s s i g n e d a s p r i m ary i n v e s t i g at o r s , arr i v e d at 8 : 5 0 a . m . t o s e c ur e th e c r i m e
s c e n e an d b e g an l o o k i n g fo r e v i d e n c e . S e e N T , J u r y T r i a l , D a y 3 , pg. 6

2 0, l i n e 2 0 - pg. 6

2 1 , li n e 7
. D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t Janu s w a s a b l e t o i d e n t i f

y th e d e c e a s e d f

e m a l e a s L i n d a G o r d o n thro u g h p h o t o g ra p h s p ro v i d e d an d a t att o o o n L i n d a G o r d o n ' s p e r s o n . S e e i d, pg. 6

2 2 , li n es 7

- 9
. 2E arl i e r th at m o rn i n g , aro un d 8 : 0 5 a . m . , C o r p o ra l Jam e s L an g d o n , C i ty o f E r i e P o l i c e D e p artm e n t , an d h i s p artn e r , P atr o l m an B ar b e r , w e r e d i s p at c h e d t o Ap p e ll an t' s r e s i d e n c e at 

### 1 2 6 8 E a s t 

### 2 1 s t S tr e e t , E r i e , P e nn s y l v an i a , fo r an a ll e g e d b ur g l ar y 

### i n p ro g r e s s . S

e e 

### N. T , J u r y T r i a l , D a y 2 , 

### p g . 2 3 6 , l i n es 5

- 1 3
. Up o n arr i v i n g , C o r p o ra l L an g d o n an d P atro l m an B ar b e r m a d e c o n t a c t w i th Ap p e ll an t , w h o s t at e d " S o m e o n e ' s i n my h o u s e , " " I s e e s h a d o w s " an d " H e ' s b e h i n d th e c o u c h
. " S e e i d, 

### pg . 2 3 7 , l i n es 1 9

- 2 1
. A f

t e r s e c ur i n g th e r e s i d e n c e , C o r p o r a l L an g d o n an d P atr o l m an B ar b e r d i d n o t 

### fi n d any o n e i n s i d e th e r e s i d e n c e . S e e i d , 

### pg. 2 3 9, li n es 4

- 2 2
. A t 

### 8 : 3 2 a . m . , a s C o rp o ra l L an g d o n an d P atro l m an B ar b e r w e r e l e av i n g , Ap p e ll an t s t at e d " I d o n ' t kn o w w h e r e my w i fe ' s at. " S e e i d , 

### pg. 2 4 1 , l i n es 1

- 3
. Ap p e ll an t s t at e d h e an d h i s w i fe w e r e at th e P l y m o uth th e n i g h t b e fo r e
an d h a d g o tt e n i n t o an ar g um e n t b e fo r e c o m i n g h o m e . S e e i d, 

### pg . 2 4 2 , l i n es 2 2

- 2 3
. C o r p o ra l L an g d o n o b s e rv e d Ap p e ll an t w a s n o t a g i t at e d , b ut w a s " o n e d g e , " i
. e . l o o k i n g aro un d , qu e s t i o n i n g e v e r y th i n g an d a

p p e ar i n g u

p s e t. S e e i d , 

### pg . 2 5 1 , l i n e 1

- 9
. C o r

p o ra l L an g d o n an d P atro l m an B ar b e r l e ft Ap p e ll an t ' s r e s i d e n c e at 

### 8 : 3 2 a . m . , r e t urn e d t o th e C i ty o f E r i e P o l i c e D e p artm e n t an d s p o k e
w i th S e r g e an t F r i e s ; h o w e v e r , a f t e r h e ar i n g th e d i s p at c h fo r a d e c e a s e d p e r s o n an d at th e
a dv i s e m e n t o f S e r g e an t F r i e s , C o r p o ra l L an g d o n an d P atro l m an B ar b e r r e t urn e d t o Ap p e ll an t ' s
r e s i d e n c e , w h e r e th e y fo un d Ap p e ll an t w a s n o t at h o m e . S e e i d , 

### pg. 2 4 3 , l i n e 1 9 � 

### pg

. 2 4 6 , l i n e 

### 6. W h e n Ap p e ll an t r e t

urn e d h o m e t e n (1 0 ) m i nut e s l at e r i n h i s s i l v e r C a d i ll a c v e h i cl e , C o r p o ra l L an g d o n r e qu e s t e d Ap p e ll an t a c c o mp any th e m t o th e C i ty o f E r i e p o l i c e s t at i o n t o fil e a m i s s i n g p e r s o n r e p o rt an d fo r furth e r qu e s t i o n i n g . S e e i d , 

### p g . 2 4 6 , li n e 2 4 � 

### pg. 2 4 7

, l i n e 2
. Ap p e ll an t
v o l un t ar i l y c o mp l i e d an d a c c o mp an i e d th e p o l i c e o f fi c e r s t o th e C i ty o f E r i e P o l i c e D e p artm e n t. S e e i d, 

### pg. 2 4 7

, l i n es 2

- 4
. D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t J anu s an d D e t e c t i v e H e rt e l r e t urn e d t o th e C i ty o f E r i e p o l i c e s t at i o n t o i n t e rv i e w Ap p e ll an t. S e e N T , Ju r y T r i a l , D a y 3 , 

### pg. 6

2 3 , l i n es 1 4

- 1 6

. I n th e i n t e rv i e w ro o m , Ap p e ll an t r e c e i v e d a t e l e p h o n e c a ll o n h i s c e ll p h o n e fr o m an unk n o w n i n d i v i d

u a l ; a ft e r

w ar d s , 3Ap p e ll an t l e arn e d a d e c e a s e d fe m a l e h a d b e e n d i s c o v e r e d an d a s k e d D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t Janu s an d

D e t e c t i v e H e rt e l i f h i s w i fe h a d b e e n fo un d
. 

### S e e i d , 

### pg. 6 2 4, li n e 4 - 

### pg

. 6 2 6 , li n e 7
. Wh e n th e p o l i c e o ffi c e r s s t at e d th e y c o u l d n o t i d e n t i f y th e d e c e a s e d fe m a l e a s h i s w i fe , Ap p e ll an t b e g an a

" t e mp e r t an trum , " i
. e . p o un d i n g o n th e t a b l e , p un c h i n g th e w a ll , l y i n g o n th e fl o o r o n h i s s t o m a c h , k i c k i n g h i s fe e t an d p o un d i n g th e fl o o r. 

### S e e i d , 

### pg. 6 2 6 , l i n es 7

- 1 3
. Ap p e ll an t w a s th e n b o o k e d an d p l a c e d i n t o a j a i l c e ll , d ur i n g w h i c h th e i t e m s o n Ap p e ll an t ' s p e r s o n w e r e s e i z e d , i n cl u d i n g h i s g o l d r i n g w i th s u s p e c t e d b l o o d o n i t. 

### S e e i d , 

### pg . 6 2 6 , l i n e 1 9 -



### pg. 6 2 7 , li n e 1 6
. Wh i l e b e i n g l e d t o
a j a i l c e ll , Ap p e ll an t a s k e d D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t Janu s an d D e t e c t i v e H e rt e l " h o w m any t i m e s w a s
s h e s h o t , " t o w h i c h D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t J anu s an d D e t e c t i v e H e rt e l d i d n o t r e s p o n d
. 

### S e e i d, 

### pg. 6 2 9, li n es 1 1

- 1 8
. A ft e r Ap p e ll an t w a s b o o k e d , D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t Janu s c h e c k e d th e l o c a l n e w s
o ut l e t s t o fi n d w h e th e r th e n e w s w a s r e p o rt i n g o n h o w th e fe m a l e b e c am e d e c e a s e d
. 

### S e e i d , 

### pg . 63 0, li n es 1

- 4
. T h e m e d i a , at th at t i m e , n e v e r r e p o rt e d o n h o w th e p e r s o n b e c am e d e c e a s e d
. 

### S e e i d , 

### pg. 63 0, li n es 7

- 1 0
. T h e r e a ft e r , D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t J anu s an d D e t e c t i v e H e rt e l s e c ur e d an d e x e c ut e d s e ar c h
w arran t s o f Ap p e ll an t ' s r e s i d e n c e an d v e h i cl e . 

### S e e i d , 

### pg. 63 0, l i n es 1 8

- 2 4
. D e t e c t i v e Jo dy R a g e r , C i ty o f E r i e P o li c e D e p artm e n t , p h o t o g ra p h e d th e e x t e r i o r o f th e r e s i d e n c e an d s e ar c h e d fo r p hy s i c a l e v i d e n c e o f h o m i c i d e , b ut fo un d n o p hy s i c a l e v i d e n c e i n s i d e th e r e s i d e n c e . 

### S e e 

### N. T , J u r y T r i a l , D a y 2 , 

### pg. 4 5 8, li n e 7 - 

### pg. 4 5 9, li n e 9
. D e t e c t i v e R a g e r s e ar c h e d Ap p e ll an t' s v e h i c l e an d th e n h a d th e v e h i cl e t o w e d t o th e b a s e m e n t o f th e C i ty o f E r i e p o l i c e s t at i o n fo r p ro c e s s i n g . 

### S e e i d , 

### pg . 4 6 0, li n e 1 - 

### pg. 4 6 1 , l i n e 2 0
. D e t e c t i v e R a g e r o b s e rv e d b l o o d tran s fe r , i
. e . b l o o d s m e ar s , i n
s e v e ra l ar e a s o f Ap p e ll an t ' s s i l v e r C a d ill a c v e h i cl e , s p e c i fi c a ll y o n th e d o o r n e ar th e s t e e r i n g
w h e e l , w h i c h D e t e c t i v e R a g e r th e n s w a b b e d an d s e n t t o th e P e nn s y l v an i a S t at e P o li c e c r i m e l ab
. 

### S e e i d , 

### pg. 4 63 , l i n e 6 - 

### pg. 4 73 , l i n e 1 2
. D e t e c t i v e R a g e r a l s o s w a b b e d Ap p e ll an t ' s r i n g an d s e n t th e s w a b t o th e P e nn s y l v an i a S t at e P o li c e c r i m e l ab
. 

### S e e i d , 

### pg . 4 74, l i n e 1 5 - 

### pg. 4 7 6

, li n e 7
. 4O n Ju l y 2 3 r d , 2 0 1 6 , D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t J anu s an d D e t e c t i v e H e rt e l r e t urn e d t o th e c r i m e
s c e n e an d tr i e d t o o b t a i n s urv e ill an c e v i d e o fo o t a g e fr o m ar e a s n e ar b y . S e e N T , J u r y T r i a l , D a y 3 , pg. 63 2 , l i n es 1 2

- 1 5
. D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t J anu s d i s c o v e r e d a kn i fe i n th e d e n s e w o o d e d ar e a o n th e
n o rth s i d e o f E a s t 1 9 1 11 S tr e e t , aro un d tw e n ty f e e t ( 2 0 ' ) fr o m th e c r i m e s c e n e , an d th e kn i fe w a s
c o ll e c t e d b y D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t K e nn e th K e n s i ll , C i ty o f E r i e P o li c e D e p artm e n t , S e e N T , J u r y T r i a l , D a y 2 , pg. 2 6 0, l i n e 1 2 - pg. 2 6 1 , li n e 1
. A t th e C i ty o f Er i e p o l i c e s t at i o n , D e t e c t i v e S e r g e an t K e n s ill p h o t o g r a p h e d th e kn i fe , w h i c h w a s b e tw e e n e i g h t i n c h e s ( 8 " ) an d e i g h t an d o n e h a l f i n c h e s ( 8 W '

) i n l e n g th
. S

e e i d , pg . 2 64, li n e 1 5 - pg

. 2 65 , li n e 6

. D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t K e n s i ll
o b s e rv e d a r e d s u

b s t an c e o n an ar e a o f th e kn i fe ; th e r e a ft e r , h e p h o t o g ra p h e d th e ar e a , t e s t e d th e
s ub s t an c e , w h i c h s h o w e d p r e s ump t i v e l y fo r b l o o d , an d c o ll e c t e d a b l o o d s amp l e , w h i c h w a s s e n t t o th e P e nn s y l v an i a S t at e P o l i c e c r i m e l ab
. S e e i d , pg . 2 65 , l i n e 1 9 - pg

. 2 6 6 , li n e 3
. D r. E r i c V e y , M
. D
. , fo r e n s i c p ath o l o g i s t , c o n d u c t e d th e aut o p s y o f L i n d a G o r d o n o n Ju l y 2 2 n d , 2 0 1 6 at 2 : 3 0 p . m . S e e i d, pg. 2 8 1 , li n es 9

- 1 4
. D r. V e y c o n fi rm e d tw e n ty ( 2 0 ) s h ar p fo r c e i n j ur y w o un d s , i
. e . kn i f

e w o un d s , o n L i n d a G o r d o n ' s b o dy , i n cl u d i n g th i rt e e n ( 1 3 ) s h ar p fo r c e 

### i n j ury w o un d s o n th e fr o n t an d b a c k o f L i n d a G o r d o n ' s t o r s o an d s e v e n ( 7 ) s h ar p fo r c e i n

j ury
w o un d s i n L i n d a G o r d o n ' s u p p e r l e ft e x tr e m i ty , i
. e . l e f t fo r e arm , l e ft ai m an d l e f t s h o u l d e r. S

e e i d , pg. 2 8 5 , li n es 1

- 2 5
. D r . V e y a l s o o b s e rv e d s e v e ra l c o n t u s i o n s an d a

b ra s i o n s o n L i n d a G o r d o n ' s b o dy , w h i c h D r. V e y c o n cl u d e d w e r e m a d e c o n t e mp o ran e o u s l y w i th th e s h arp fo r c e i n j ur y
w o un d s . S

e e i d , pg. 3 0 4, l i n e -

pg. 3 0 6 , l i n e 7
. D r . V e y a l s o s e n t L i n d a G o r d o n ' s b l o o d t o N at i o n a l M e d i c a l S e rv i c e s ( " N M S " ) l ab s fo r t o x i c o l o g y an a l y s i s , w h i c h r e t urn e d p o s i t i v e fo r s e v e ra l
s ub s t an c e s , i n cl u d i n g c o t i n i n e , n i c o t i n e , c a ff e i n e , L e v am i s o l e , m e thy l e c g o n i n e , F l e x e r i l , c o c a i n e , b e n z o y l e c g o n i n e , m o r p h i n e , 6
- m o n o a c e ty l m or p h i n e , P ro z a c , fl u o x e t i n e , d i p h e nhy dram i n e , d i lt i a z e m an d hy dro x y z i n e ; h o w e v e r , D r . V e y c o n cl u d e d n o n e o f th e s e s u b s t an c e s k i ll e d L i n d a G o r d o n an d " b ut fo r th e s t ab w o un d s , s h e [ L i n d a G o r d o n ] w o u l d s t i ll b e a l i v e t o d ay . " S e e i d , pg. 

### 5

### 3 0 6

, l i n e 2 3 - pg. 

### 3 1 1 , l i n e 1 0
. U l t i m at e l y , D r. V e y c o n cl u d e d L i n d a G o r d o n d i e d a s a r e s u l t o f
mu l t i p l e s t ab w o un d s t o h e r t o r s o an d n o o th e r i n t e r v e n i n g fo r c e s c o u l d h av e c au s e d L i n d a G o r d o n ' s d e ath
. 

### S

e e i d , pg. 

### 3 0 6 , l i n e 1 8

- 2 2
. B a s e d u

p o n th e o n s e t o f r i g o r m o rt i s an d n o n - fi x e d l i v o r m o rt i s , D r. V e y e s t i m at e d L i n d a G o r d o n w a s d e c e a s e d fo r l e s s th an e i g h t e e n ( 1 8 ) h o ur s . 

### S e e i d , pg. 

### 3 1 3 , l i n es 1

- 9
. O n Ju l y 2 ?1 1 

### 1, 2 0 1 6 , B ra d l e y M c L au g h l i n , P e nn s y l v an i a S t at e P o l i c e fo r e n s i c s ci e n t i s t , e x am i n e d th e b l o o d s w a b s r e c e i v e d fr o m D e t e c t i v e R a g e r an d p r e p ar e d h i s fo rm a l R e p 01 1
. 

### S e e N T , J u r y T r i a l , D a y 3 , pg. 

### 5 0 6

, l i n e 6 - pg. 

### 5 0 8, l i n e 2 2
. D ur i n g h i s an a l y s i s , M r. M c L au g h l i n p o s i t i v e l y i d e n t i fi e d b l o o d o n Ap p e ll an t ' s r i n g an d o n thr e e ( 3 ) s w a b s fr o m Ap p e ll an t' s s i l v e r C a d ill a c v e h i cl e , w h i c h w e r e th e n p r e p ar e d an d s e n t t o th e P e nn s y l v an i a S t at e P o l i c e c r i m e l ab fo r D N A an a l y s i s , a l o n g w i th a dr i e d s amp l e o f w h o l e b l o o d an d fi n g e rn a i l cl i p p i n g s fr o m L i n d a G o r d o n . 

### S

e e i d , pg . 

### 5 0 8, l i n e 2 5 -

pg. 

### 5 2 4, l i n e 1 3
. J ill i an C ro u c h , P e nn s y l v an i a S t at e P o l i c e fo r e n s i c D N A s c i e n t i s t , p ro c e s s e d th e i t e m s
r e c e i v e d fr o m B ra d l e y M c L au g h li n fo r p o t e n t i a l D N A an d auth o r e d tw o ( 2 ) R e p o rt s - a R e p o rt d at e d O c t o b e r 3 0 1 11 , 2 0 1 6 an d a R e p o rt d at e d D e c e mb e r 2 3 r d , 2 0 1 6
. 1 

### S e e i d , pg. 

### 5 3 6 , li n e 8 - pg. 

### 5 3 7 , li n e 5
. A t e s t o f th e s w ab o f Ap p e ll an t' s r i n g i n d i c at e d a m i x o f tw o ( 2 ) i n d i v i d u a l s , an d Ap p e ll an t an d L i n d a G o r d o n c o u l d n o t b e e x cl u d e d a s p o t e n t i a l c o n tr i b ut o r s t o th e m i x . 

### S e e i d , pg. 

### 5 3 9, l i n e 1 1 - pg. 

### 5 4 4
. li n e 9
. A t e s t o f th e s w ab o f th e kn i f e h an d l e fo r D N A i n d i c at e d th i rt e e n (1 3 ) o f th e tw e n ty - fo ur ( 2 4 ) D N A ar e a s t e s t e d , w h i c h m at c h e d th e kn o w n r e fe r e n c e fo r L i n d a G o r d o n . 

### S

e e i d, pg. 

### 5 4 4, l i n e 1 3 - pg. 

### 5 4 6 , l i n e 4
. A t e s t o f th e s w a b o f th e kn i fe b l a d e i n d i c at e d
a ll tw e n ty - fo ur ( 2 4 ) D N A ar e a s , w h i c h m at c h e d th e kn o w n r e fe r e n c e fo r L i n d a G o r d o n . 

### S e e i d , pg. 

### 5 4 6 li n e 5 - pg. 

### 5 4 7

, l i n e 1 0
. A t e s t o f s w a b # 2 fr o m th e C a d i ll a c i n d i c at e d a m i x o f tw o ( 2 )
I T h e O c t o b e r 3 0 1 

## 1\ 2 0 1 6 R e p o rt w a s p r e p ar e d u s i n g o n l y th e i t e m s fr o m B ra d l e y M c L au g h l i n an d th e kn o w n D N A r e fe r e n c e , i. e . b l o o d an d fi n g e rn a i l c l i p p i n g s , fo r L i n d a G o r d o n . T h e r e a ft e r , a ft e r r e qu e s t i n g an d r e c e i v i n g a b u c c a l s w a b fr o m Ap p e ll an t B i ll y R ay G o r d o n , th e D e c e mb e r 2 3 ' \ 2 0 1 6 R e p o rt w a s p r e p ar e d
. S e e N T. , J u r y T r i a l , D a y 3 , l i n es 1 5

- 2 5
. 

### 6i n d i v i d

u a l s , an d Ap p e ll an t an d L i n d a G o r d o n c o u l d n o t b e e x cl u d e d a s p o t e n t i a l c o n tr i b ut o r s t o th e m i x . 

### S

e e i d , pg . 

### 5 4 7 , li n e 1 2 - pg

. 

### 5 4 8, li n e 1 6

. A t e s t o f s w a

b # 5 fr o m th e C a d ill a c i n d i c at ed a
m i x o f tw o ( 2 ) i n d i v i d

u a l s , an d Ap p e ll an t an d L i n d a G o r d o n c o u l d n o t b e e x cl u d e d a s p o t e n t i a l
c o n tr i b ut o r s t o th e m i x . 

### S e e i d, pg . 

### 5 4 8, li n e 1 7 - pg. 

### 5 4 9, li n e 1 4
. J i ll i an C ro u c h a l s o p ro c e s s e d th e r i g h t fi n g e rn a i l c li p p i n g s o f L i n d a G o r d o n , c o n t a i n i n g a r e d d i s h
- b ro w n s ub s t an c e , fo r D N A ;
s p e c i fi c a ll y , a Y
- s p e c i fi c t e s t , i n d i c at i n g a p art i a l Y c h ro m o s o m e , i
. e . t e n (1 0 ) o ut o f s i x t e e n (1 6 )
ar e a s t e s t e d , w h i c h m at c h e d a kn o w n s amp l e o f Ap p e ll an t , m e an i n g n e i th e r Ap p e ll an t n o r any o f Ap p e ll an t' s p at e rn a ll y - r e l at e d m a l e r e l at i v e s c o u l d b e e x cl u d e d
. 

### S e e i d, pg. 

### 5 4 9, li n e 1 6 - pg . 

### 5 5 3 , li n e 1 0
. A t th e C r i m i n a l Jur y T r i a l , th e C o mm o nw e a l th c a ll e d M ark D o d i c k
. M r. D o d i c k i n d i c at e d h e o b s e rv e d Ap p e ll an t arr i v i n g at T e rr an c e P o rt e r ' s r e s i d e n c e o n W e s t 

### 2 5 1 11 S tr e e t o n Ju l y 

### 2 2 n d , 2 0 1 6 aro un d 

### 6 : 0 0
- 6 : 4 5 a . m . i n a s i l v e r C a d i ll a c v e h i cl e . 

### S e e 

### N. T , J u r y T r i a l , D a y 2 , pg. 

### 3 2 9, li n e 6 - pg. 

### 3 3 0, li n e 5 ; pg. 

### 3 3 1 , li n e 1 5 0 1 8
. A c c o r d i n g t o M r. D o d i c k , Ap p e ll an t w a s i n h i s b o x e r s
c arr y i n g w h i t e cl o th e s . 

### S

e e i d, pg. 

### 3 3 0, li n e 2 2 - pg. 

### 3 3 1 , li n e 3
. T h e C o mm o nw e a lth a l s o c a ll e d T e rr an c e P o rt e r a s a w i tn e s s . M r . P o rt e r w a s fam i l i ar w i th Ap p e ll an t , w h o h e r e fe rr e d t o a s " U n c " o r " U n cl e . " 

### S e e i d, pg . 

### 3 4 9 li n e 1 9 - pg. 

### 3 5 1 , li n e 1 4
. A c c o r d i n g t o M r. P o rt e r , a ft e r h e w o k e u p aro un d 

### 5 : 4 5 a . m . o n Ju l y 

### 2 2 11 d , 

### 2 0 1 6 , Ap p e ll an t arr i v e d
at M r . P o rt e r ' s r e s i d e n c e i n h i s s i l v e r C a d i ll a c v e h i cl e p l ay i n g l o u d mu s i c . 

### S e e i d, pg. 

### 3 5 8, li n e 1 0

- pg. 

### 3 6 0, li n e 3
. Ap p e ll an t e n t e r e d th e r e s i d e n c e , w h e r e M r . P o rt e r o b s e rv e d Ap p e ll an t " dr e n c h e d i n b l o o d , " an d w h e n M r . P o rt e r a s k e d Ap p e ll an t w h at h a p p e n e d , Ap p e ll an t s t at e d h e mur d e r e d L i n d a . 

### S e e i d, 

### pg. 3 6 0, li n es 5

- 1 7
. Ap p e ll an t a s k e d fo r a c h an g e o f cl o th e s , w h i c h M r . P o rt e r p ro v i d e d
. pg. 

### 3 6 1 , l i n es 9

- 1 8
. M r. P o rt e r i n d i c at e d Ap p e ll an t " g av e m e [ M r. P o rt e r ] th e s am e [ b l o o dy ] cl o th e s t o b urn a f t e r th e mur d e r . " 

### S

e e i d, 

### pg. 3 5 4, l i n es 2 0

- 2 1 ; Ap p e ll an t a d d i t i o n a ll y
s t at e d h e [ Ap p e ll an t ] " s t ab b e d L i n d a mu l t i p l e t i m e s , " an d th o u g h t s h e w a s g o i n g t o " l e av e h i m a ll 7a l o n e " an d " w a s g o i n g t o t e l l. " S e e i d , pg . 3 6 3 , l i n es 1 0

- 1 8
. 

### Mr
. P o rt e r dro v e Ap p e ll an t h o m e i n th e s i l v e r C a d i ll a c v e h i cl e , w h e r e Ap p e ll an t t o l d M r . P o rt e r t o " k e e p th e c ar fo r a w h i l e . " S e e i d , pg. 3 65 , l i n es 3

- 1 1
. M r . P o rt e r n o t i c e d s p e c k s o f b l o o d o n th e dr i v e r ' s s i d e armr e s t. S e e i d , pg . 3 6 6 , l i n e 2 0 - pg. 3 6 7

, l i n e 1 1
. T h e r e a f

t e r , M r. P o rt e r c a ll e d h i s fri e n d " P un c h o " t o " h e l p [ M r. P o rt e r ] g e t r i d o f [ Ap p e ll an t ' s ] cl o th e s . " S e e i d, pg . 3 6 9, l i n es 9

- 1 9
. M r . P o rt e r l at e r dro v e t o

" P un c h o ' s " h o u s e t o u s e th e fir e p i t , w h e r e M r . P o rt e r b urn e d th e cl o th e s . S e e i d , pg . 3 7 0, li n e 1 - pg . 3 7 1 , li n e 9
. A ft e r

w ar d s , M r . P o rt e r an d " P un c h o " p i c k e d u p Ap p e ll an t i n th e s i l v e r C a d i ll a c
v e h i cl e , w h e r e Ap p e ll an t an d M r. P o rt e r h a d a c o n v e r s at i o n a b o ut th e mur d e r , i n cl u d i n g Ap p e ll an t ' s s t at e m e n t " s h e ' s n o t g o i n g t o s e n d m e t o j a i l. " S e e i d , pg . 3 7 1 , li n e 1 4 - pg

. 3 75 , li n e 1
. R o n a l d M o n t an e z , a/k/ a " P un c h o , " w a s a l s o c a ll e d a s a C o mm o nw e a lth w i tn e s s . S e e i d, pg . 4 2 3 , li n es 2 0

- 2 3
. A c c o r d i n g t o M r. M o n t an e z , T e rr an c e P o rt e r c a ll e d h i m aro un d 7 : 3 0 a . m . , Ju l y 2 2 11 d , 2 0 1 6 , an d a s k e d t o u s e M r. M o n t an e z ' fir e p i t. S e e i d , pg. 4 1 6 , li n e 2 4

-

p g. 4 1 7 , l i n e 6
. M r. P 01 1 e r l at e r arr i v e d at M r . M o n t an e z ' h o u s e i n a g ray C a d i ll a c v e h i cl e w i th th e cl o th e s , w h i c h h e th r e w i n M r . M o n t an e z ' fir e p i t an d b urn e d th e m [ th e cl o th e s ]
. S e e i d, pg . 4 1 8, l i n es 5

- 17
. M r . M o n t an e z n o t i c e d a p a i r o f w h i t e N i k e s n e ak e r s i n cl u d e d w i th th e cl o th e s an d th e w h i t e N i k e
s n e ak e r s h a d b l o o d o n th e m . S e e i d , pg . 4 1 8, l i n e 2 3 - pg

. 4 1 9, l i n es 11 , 1 5

- 1 7

. T h e r e a ft e r , M r . M o n t an e z an d M r. P o rt e r " p i c k e d u p M r. P o rt e r ' s un cl e , " w h o M r . M o n t an e z r e fe rr e d t o a s " C l ay " [ i
. e . Ap p e ll an t ]. i n th e s i l v e r C a d i ll a c v e h i cl e . S e e i d, pg. 4 2 0, li n e 1 5 -

pg. 4 2 2 , li n e 5
. D ur i n g th e
r i d e i n th e s i l v e r C a d i ll a c v e h i cl e , Ap p e ll an t a/k/ a " C l ay " w a s n o t aw ar e M r. M o n t an e z w a s i n th e b a c k s e at an d Ap p e ll an t w a s h av i n g a c o nv e r s at i o n w i th M r . P o rt e r , b ut Ap p e ll an t " fl i p p e d o ut "
an d b e g an a s k i n g " w h y h e [ M r. M o n t an e z ] i n my c ar , " a ft e r w h i c h M r . M o n t an e z e x i t e d th e
v e h i cl e . S

e e i d, pg . 4 2 2 , l i n e 6 - 4 2 3 , li n e 4
.
8O n Ju l y 2 9 11 

### 1, 2 0 1 6 , D e t e c t i v e M ark S e nn e tt , C i ty o f E ri e P o l i c e D e p artm e n t , w e n t t o

R o n a l d M o n t an e z ' r e s i d e n c e w i th D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t Janu s an d D e t e c t i v e H e rt e l t o a s s i s t l o o k i n g fo r e v i d e n c e . S

e e i d , pg . 4 4 4, li n es 9

- 2 3
. D e t e c t i v e S e nn e tt p h o t o g ra p h e d th e fi r e p i t an d fo un d
s e v e ra l i t e m s o n th e b o tt o m o f th e fi r e p i t , i n c l u d i n g s e v e r a l r i v e t s , z i p p e r p u ll s , c o i n s an d " t i ny t e e th l i k e fr o m w h e r e th e z i p p e r z i p s t o g e th e r. " S e e i d, 

### pg. 4 4 4, li n e 

### 9 - 

### pg. 4 4 5 , l i n e 2 3
. T h e C o mm o nw e a lth a l s o c a ll e d L am o n t P h ill i p s a s a w i tn e s s . A t th e t i m e o f tr i a l , M r. P h i ll i p s i s i n c ar c e rat e d i n th e E r i e C o un ty P r i s o n o n p e n d i n g ro b b e r y c h ar g e s . S

e e 

### N. T. , J

u r y T r i a l , D a y 3 , pg . 5 6 0, l i n es 2

- 6

. M r. P h i ll i p s i s fam i l i ar w i th Ap p e ll an t , an d h a s kn o wn Ap p e ll an t fo r fi ft e e n (1 5 ) y e ar s a s a fr i e n d o f M r. P h i ll i p s an d h i s fam i l y . S e e i d , pg . 5 6 0, l i n es 7

- 1 2
. W h e n M r . P h i ll i p s w a s i n c ar c e rat e d i n th e E r i e C o un ty P r i s o n , F b l o c k o n J anu ar y 6 1 h o r 9 1 '\ 2 0 1 7 , Ap p e ll an t i n i t i at e d c o n v e r s at i o n s w i th M r. P h ill i p s ; s p e c i fi c a ll y , Ap p e ll an t " c am e u p w i th a s t o r

y th at [ M r . P h i lli p s ] w a s s u

p p o s e d t o t e ll w h e n [ Ap p e ll an t ] h a d [ M r. P h ill i p s ] s ub p o e n a e d
. " S e e i d, 

### pg. 5 6 1 , l i n e 5 - 

### pg. 5 6

2 , l i n e 8
. E s s e n t i a ll y , Ap p e ll an t w an t e d t o " m ak e i t l o o k l i k e T e rr an c e P o rt e r k i ll e d L i n d a G o r d o n . " S

e e i d
. 

### pg. 5 6 2 , li n e 1 2 - 

### pg

. 5 63 , l i n e 4
. M r. P h i ll i p s ' e xp l an at i o n o f th e s t o ry Ap p e ll an t d e v i s e d i s s umm ar i z e d a s fo ll o w s :

O n Ju l y 2 2 n d , 2 0 1 6 , at 4 : 3 0 p . m . , T e r ran c e P o rt e r c a ll e d L am o n t P h i ll i p s an d t o l d L am o n t P h i ll i p s t o b r i n g a t i n o f c o c a i n e an d th r e e ( 3 ) ro c k s o f c ra c k o ut s i d e th e r e s i d e n c e w h e r e L am o n t P h i ll i p s w a s s t ay i n g o n W e s t 2 6 1 h S tr e e t. L am o n t P h i ll i p s n o t i c e d " C l ay ' s " s i l v e r C a d ill a c v e h i cl e p ark e d o ut fr o n t. T h e r e a f t e r , L am o n t P h i ll i p s j ump e d i n th e b a c k s e at , an d s aw a b l o n d e w h i t e w o m an w a s dr i v i n g . T e r

ran c e P o rt e r w a s i n th e p a s s e n g e r s e at. L am o n t P h i ll i p s a s k e d w h e r e

" C l ay " w a s , an d th e w o m an s a i d " at h o m e . " L am o n t P h ill i p s a s k e d T e rr an c e P o rt e r
w h o th e w o m an w a s , an d T e rr an c e P o rt e r s a i d " C l ay ' s w i fe
. " L am o n t P h i ll i p s fe l t
s a fe p a s s i n g th e dru g s t o T e r ran c e P o rt e r . 

### 9P e o p l e w e r e s ay i n g " C l ay ' s " w i fe w a s fo un d d e a d , an d i t w a s n o t 

### 4 8 h o ur s

fr o m L am o n t P h i ll i p s ' m e e t i n g w i th T e r ran c e P o rt e r an d L i n d a G o r d o n . L am o n t P h i ll i p s w a s i n an d o ut o f th e c ar i n tw o m i nut e s . K e i s h a h a d L am o n t P h i ll i p s c o m e t o h e r h o u s e t o r e a d l e tt e r T e rr an c e P o rt e r
w ro t e t o h e r . I n th e l e tt e r , T e rr an c e P 01 1 e r t o l d L am o n t P h i ll i p s n e v e r t o m e n t i o n h e
w a s w i th L i n d a G o r d o n b uy i n g c o c a i n e an d c ra c k at 

### 4 : 3 0 a . m . o n Ju l y 

### 2 2 11 d , 

### 2 0 1 7
. S e e i d , 

### pg. 5 68, li n e 17 - 

### pg. 5 7 1 , li n e 1 2 ; 

### pg . 5 7 6 , li n e 7 - 

### pg

. 5 77 , l i n e 2 3
. Ap p e ll an t a dm i tt e d t o L am o n t P h i ll i p s th at h e w e n t t o T e rr an c e P o rt e r ' s r e s i d e n c e , w h e r e p e o p l e s aw Ap p e ll an t c h an g i n g cl o th e s , an d Ap p e ll an t g av e h i s cl o th e s t o M r. P o rt e r t o b urn . S e e i d , 

### pg. 5 74, li n e 2 2 - 

### pg. 5 75, li n e 7
. Ap p e ll an t a l s o a dm i tt e d t o L am o n t P h ill i p s th at L i n d a G o r d o n kn e w a b o ut th e b ank
ro b b e r i e s an d Ap p e ll an t " s t ab b e d h e r " an d " h e [ Ap p e ll an t ] h a d t o d o w h at h e h a d t o d o . " S e e i d, 

### pg. 5 8 0, l i n es 5

- 1 2
. Ap p e ll an t o ff e r e d L am o n t P h i ll i p s fi v e th o u s an d d o ll ar s 

### ( $ 5 , 0 0 0 ) t o t e n th o u s an d d o ll ar s 

### ( $ 10 , 0 0 0 ) t o g i v e a fa b r i c at e d s t o r

y , an d Ap p e ll an t' s m o th e r w o u l d p ro v i d e M r. P h i ll i p s w i t th e m o n e y b y s e ll i n g o n e o f h e r p ro p e rt i e s . S e e i d , 

### pg. 5 8 3 , li n es 1 5

- 2 5
. M r. P h i ll i p s
e xp r e s s e d c o n c e rn fo r M r . P o rt e r b e c au s e Ap p e ll an t t o l d M r. P h i ll i p s " h e [ Ap p e ll an t ] w a s g o i n g t o k i ll T e r ran c e an d h i s g i rl fr i e n d
. " S e e i d , 

### pg. 5 8 4, li n es 7

- 17

. F i n a ll y , a c c o r d i n g t o D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t Janu s , s e v e ra l s urv e i ll an c e v i d e o s fr o m d i ff e r e n t l o c at i o n s , i n cl u d i n g 

### 1 9 1 6 an d 

### 1 9 2 0 C amp h au s e n A v e nu e , th e S p a e d e r C o mp any ( 

### 1 8 0 0 b l o c k o f S c h a a l A v e nu e ) an d th e H o u s i n g Auth o r i ty o f C i ty o f E r i e 

### (1 4 0 0 b l o c k o f E a s t 

### 1 9 • h S tr e e t ) , s h o w , at aro un d 

### 6 : 0 0 a . m . o n Ju l y 

### 2 2 11 d , 

### 2 0 1 6 , a l i g h t - c o l o r e d C a d i ll a c h e a d e d n o rthb o un d o n C amp h au s e n A v e nu e , th e n e a s t b o un d o n E a s t 

### 1 9 1 11 S tr e e t an d fi n a ll y w e s t b o un d o n E a s t 

### 1 9 • h S tr e e t
aro un d 

### 6 : 0 9 a . m . S

e e i d , pg . 63 7 , li n e 3 - pg. 65 2 , li n e 1 4
. M o r e o v e r , s e v e ra l s h o rt t e l e p h o n e c a ll s
w e r e e x c h an g e d b e tw e e n T e r ran c e P 01 1 e r ' s c e ll p h o n e an d Ap p e ll an t' s c e ll p h o n e b e tw e e n 

### 8 : 0 0 p . m . o n Ju l y 

### 2 1 

### s i, 2 0 1 6 an d 9 : l 

### 7 a . m . o n Ju l y 

### 2 2 11 d , 

### 2 0 1 6
. S e e i d , 

### pg. 65 6 , l i n e 4 - 

### pg. 6 6 6 , li n e 2 5
. 10F i n a ll y , T e rr an c e P o rt e r s e n t Ap p e ll an t a t e x t m e s s a g e s t at i n g " S c ar e j u s t c a ll e d m e an d s a i d i t ' s

m a d p o l ic e o v e r th e r e . W h at ' s u p ? E v e r y th i n g g o o d ? " , t o w h i c h Ap p e ll an t r e s p o n d e d " G o o d
. " 

### S e e i d, pg . 

### 6 6 7 li n e 3 - pg. 

### 6 68, 2
. P r o c e d u r a l H i s t o ry B y O r d e r d at e d Au g u s t 1 6 11 

### 1, 2 0 1 6 , M ark T. D e l D u c a , E s q . , w a s a p p o i n t e d a s Ap p e ll an t' s c o un s e l. O n O c t o b e r 

## s " , 2 0 1 6 , a F o rm a l A rr a i g nm e n t w a s h e l d b e fo r e th i s T r i a l C o urt . F o ll o w i n g th e F o rm a l A r

ra i g nm e n t , th i s T r i a l C o urt e n t e r e d an O r d e r o n O c t o b e r 6 11 

### 1, 2 0 1 6 , d i r e c t i n g d i s c o v e r y b e c o mp l e t e d b y O c t o b e r 1 9 th, 2 0 1 6 , p r e - tr i a l M o t i o n s b e fil e d b y N o v e mb e r 

# 7' 1\ 2 0 1 6
an d s c h e d

u l i n g th e C r i m i n a l Jur

y T r i a l t o b e g i n w i th 

### v o i r d i r e an d j ur

y s e l e c t i o n o n M ar c h 2 i \ 2 0 1 7
. O n O c t o b e r 4 th , 2 0 1 6 , th e D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y ' s O ffi c e fil e d a C r i m i n a l I n fo rm at i o n , c h ar g i n g Ap p e ll an t w i th C r i m i n a l H o m i c i d e - M ur d e r , i n v i o l at i o n o f 1 8 P a . C
. S
. § 2 5 0 1 ( a ) ; A g g rav at e d A s s au lt
- A tt e mp t s t o C au s e S e r i o u s B o d i l y I n j ur y o r I n t e n t i o n a ll y , K

n o w i n g l y o r R e c k l e s s l y C au s i n g S e r i o u s B o d i l y I n j ur y , i n v i o l at i o n o f 1 8 P a . C
. S
. § 2 7 0 2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ; R e c k l e s s l y E n d an g e r i n g A n o th e r P e r s o n , i n v i o l at i o n o f I 8 P a . C
. S
. § 2 7 0 5 ; P o s s e s s i n g I n s trum e n t s o f C r i m e , i n v i o l at i o n
o f 1 8 P a . C
. S
. § 9 0 7 ( a ) ; Ab u s e o f C o r p s e , i n v i o l at i o n o f 1 8 P a . C
. S
. § 5 5 1 

### O ; an d T amp e r i n g w i th
o r F ab r i c at i n g P hy s i c a l E v i d e n c e , i n v i o l at i o n o f 1 8 P a . C
. S
. § 4 9 1 0 (1 )
. A Jo i n t M o t i o n fo r E x t e n s i o n w a s fil e d o n N o v e mb e r 1 5 

### 1, 2 0 I 6 , w h i c h w a s g ran t e d b y th i s T r i a l C o urt o n N o v e mb e r 2 11 d , 2 0 1 6 ( d i r e c t i n g d i s c o v e r y m at e r i a l s t o b e p ro v i d e d t o d e f e n s e
c o un s e l o n o r b e fo r e N o v e mb e r 2 9 th , 2 0 1 6 an d d i r e c t i n g p r e - tr i a l M o t i o n s b e fil e d b y D e c e mb e r l 6 1 

# 1\ 2 0 1 6 )
. A P r e - tr i a l S t at

u s C o n f e r e n c e w a s s c h e d

u l e d fo r M ar c h 1 7' 1 

### 1, 2 0 1 7 b e fo r e th i s T r i a l C o urt. T h e C o mm o nw e a l th fil e d a M o t i o n t o I n tro d u c e E v i d e n c e o f O th e r C r i m e s , Wro n g s o r B a d A c t s

1 1P ur s u an t t o P e nn s y l v an i a R u l e o f E v i d e n c e 4 0 4 ( b ) o n M ar c h 2 0 1 \ 2 0 1 7
. F o ll o w i n g a h e ar i n g o n M ar c h 2 2 11 d , 2 0 1 7 , th i s T r i a l C o urt g ran t e d C o mm o nw e a l th ' s M o t i o n . F o ll o w i n g a C r i m i n a l Jury T r i a l b e g i nn i n g o n M ar c h 2 i 1 

### 1, 2 0 1 7 th ro u g h M ar c h 3 0 1 h , 2 0 1 7 , th e j ur y fo un d Ap p e ll an t g u i l ty o f M ur d e r o f th e F i r s t D e g r e e , A g g rav at e d A s s au lt , R e c k l e s s l y E n d an g e r i n g A n o th e r P e r s o n , P o s s e s s i n g I n s trum e n t s o f C r i m e , Ab u s e o f a C o r p s e an d T amp e r i n g
w i th o r F ab r i c at i n g P hy s i c a l E v i d e n c e . F o ll o w i n g a S e n t e n c i n g H e ar i n g o n M ay 2 5 1 \ 2 0 1 7 , thi s T r i a l C o urt s e n t e n c e d D e f e n d an t a s fo ll o w s :
• C o un t O n e ( M ur d e r o f th e F i r s t D e g r e e ) : l i f e i mp r i s o nm e n t w i th o ut th e p o s s i b i l i ty o f p aro l e , w i th tw o hun dr e d n i n e ty - s i x ( 2 9 6 ) d ay s o f c r e d i t fo r t i m e s e rv e d ; • C o un t T w o ( A g g rav at e d A s s au l t ) : m e r g e d w i th C o un t O n e ; • C o un t T hr e e ( R e c k l e s s l y E n d an g e r i n g A n o th e r P e r s o n ) : m e r g e d w i th C o un t O n e ; • C o un t F o ur ( P o s s e s s i n g I n s trum e n t s o f C r i m e ) : o n e (1 ) y e ar t o fo ur ( 4 ) y e ar s o f s t at e i n c ar c e rat i o n , c o n s e c ut i v e t o C o un t O n e ; • C o un t F i v e ( Ab u s e o f a C o r p s e ) : o n e (1 ) y e ar t o tw o ( 2 ) y e ar s o f s t at e i n c ar c e rat i o n , c o n s e c ut i v e t o C o un t F o ur ; an d • C o un t S i x ( T amp e r i n g w i th o r F ab r i c at i n g P hy s i c a l E v i d e n c e ) : s i x ( 6 ) m o n th s t o tw o ( 2 ) y e ar s o f s t at e i n c ar c e rat i o n , c o n s e c ut i v e t o C o un t F i v e . Ap p e ll an t , b y an d thro u g h A tt o rn e y D e l D u c a , fi l e d a N o t i c e o f Ap p e a l t o th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u

p e r i o r C o urt o n Jun e 

### 12 1 

# 1\ 2 0 1 7
. T h i s T r i a l C o urt fi l e d i t s l 9 2 5 ( b ) O r d e r o n Jun e 1 3 1 \ 2 0 1 7
. Ap p e ll an t , b y an d thro u g h A tt o rn e y D e l D u c a , fi l e d a C o n c i s e S t at e m e n t o f M att e r s C o mp l a i n e d o f o n Ap p e a l o n Ju l y i 1 

### 1, 2 0 1 7
. A tt o rn e y D e l D u c a fi l e d an Ap p l i c at i o n t o W i th dr aw a s C o un s e l w i th th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p e r i o r C o urt o n Jun e 2 i 1 

### 1, 2 0 

### I 7 , w h i c h th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p e r i o r C o urt d e n i e d o n Jun e 3 0 1 \ 2 0 1 7 i n o r d e r t o p e rm i t A tt o rn e y D e l D u c a t o s e e k r e l i e f i n th e E r i e C o un ty C o urt o f C o mm o n
1 2P l e a s . F o ll o w i n g a h e ar i n g b e fo r e th i s T r i a l C o urt o n Ju l y 10 1 1 

### 1, 2 0 1 7 , th i s T r i a l C o urt g ran t e d

A tt o rn e y D e l D u c a ' s P e t i t i o n fo r L e av e t o W i th draw a s C o un s e l , an d a m e mb e r o f th e E r i e C o un ty P ub l i c D e f

e n d e r ' s O ffi c e w o u l d r e p r e s e n t Ap p e ll an t fo r th e i n s t an t a p p e a l t o th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p e r i o r C o urt . O n Ju l y 

### l i 11 , 2 0 1 7 , A tt o rn e y D e l D u c a r e - fi l e d h i s Ap p l i c at i o n t o W i th draw a s C o un s e l w i th th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p e r i o r C o urt. O n Ju l y 13 t h , 2 0 1 7 , E m i l y M
. M e r s k i , E s q . , e n t e r e d
an a p p e aran c e o n b e h a l f o f Ap p e ll an t i n th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p e r i o r C o urt . O n Ju l y 2 1 5 

### 1, 2 0 1 7 , th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u

p e r i o r C o urt g ran t e d A tt o rn e y D e l D u c a ' s Ap p l i c at i o n t o W i th draw a s C o un s e l. 

### R at i o n a l e an d C o n cl u s i o n s 1 ) T h e C o mm o nw e a lth p r e s e n t e d s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e to s u p p o rt th e j ury ' s d e c i s i o n s i n th at Ap p e ll an t i s g u il ty o f M ur d e r o f th e F i r s t D e g r e e , A g g r av a t e d A s s au lt , R e c k l e s s l y E n d an g e r i n g A n o th e r P e r s o n , P o s s e s s i n g I n s trum e n t s o f C r i m e , Ab u s e o f a C o r p s e an d T amp e r i n g w i th o r F ab r i c a t i n g P h y s i c a l E v i d e n c e . Wh e th e r s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e e x i s t s t o s u p p o rt th e v e r d i c t i s a qu e s t i o n o f l aw ; th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u

p e r i o r 

### C o urt ' s s t an d ar d o f r e v i e w i s 

### d e n o v a an d th e s c o p e o f r e v i e w i s p l e n ar y . 

### C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . W a ll s , 1 4 4 A. 3 d 9 2 6 , 9 3 1 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 1 6 )
. I n a s s e s s i n g Ap p e ll an t ' s
s u ffi c i e n c y c h a ll e n g e , th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p e r i o r C o u 1 1 mu s t d e t e rm i n e w h e th e r , v i e w i n g th e
e v i d e n c e i n a l i g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o th e C o mm o nw e a l th a s v e r d i c t w i nn e r , t o g e th e r w i th a ll
r e a s o n ab l e i n f

e r e n c e s th e r e fr o m , th e tr i e r o f fa c t c o u l d h av e fo un d th at th e C o mm o nw e a lth p ro v e d
e a c h e l e m e n t o f th e c r i m e b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t. 

### C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . A n s e ll

, 1 4 3 A. 3 d 9 4 4 , 9 4 9 ( P a . S u

p e r. 2 0 1 6 )
. I n a d d i t i o n , th e fa c t s an d c i r c um s t an c e s e s t ab l i s h e d b y th e C o mm o nw e a l th n e e d n o t p r e cl u d e e v e r

y p o s s i b i l i ty o f i nn o c e n c e . 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . H u t c h i n s o n , 9 4 7 A. 2 d 8 0 0 , 8 0 5
- 8 0 6 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 0 8 )
. A ny d o ub t s r e g ar d i n g a d e f e n d an t ' s g u i l t m ay b e r e s o l v e d b y th e fa c t - fi n d e r
un l e s s th e e v i d e n c e i s s o w e ak an d i n c o n cl u s i v e th at a s a m att e r o f l aw n o p ro b ab i l i ty o f fa c t m ay b e draw n fr o m th e c o mb i n e d c i r c um s t an c e s . 

### I d. T h e C o mm o nw e a l th m ay s u s t a i n it s b ur d e n o f
1 3p ro v i n g e v e r y e l e m e n t o f th e c r i m e b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o u b t b y m e an s o f w h o ll y c i r c um s t an t i a l
e v i d e n c e . 

### I

d. M o r e o v e r , th e e n t i r e r e c o r d mu s t b e e v a l u at e d an d a ll e v i d e n c e a c t u a ll y r e c e i v e d
mu s t b e c o n s i d e r e d
. I

d F i n a ll y , th e tr i e r o f fa c t w h i l e p a s s i n g u p o n th e c r e d i b i l i ty o f w i tn e s s e s an d th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e p ro d u c e d , i s fr e e t o b e l i e v e a ll , p art o r n o n e o f th e e v i d e n c e . I d
. 

### a ) M u r d e r o f t h e F i r s t D e g r e e E v i d e n c e i s s u f

fi c i e n t t o s u s t a i n a c o nv i c t i o n fo r fi r s t - d e g r e e mur d e r w h e r e th e C o mm o nw e a lth e s t ab li s h e s th at th e d e f e n d an t un l awf

u ll y k i ll e d an o th e r hum an b e i n g , th at th e d e fe n d an t a c t e d w i th a s p e c i fi c i n t e n t t o k i ll , an d th at th e k ill i n g w a s w i ll fu l , d e li b e rat e , an d p r e m e d i t at e d
. C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . H a n i b le, 8 3 6 A. 2 d 3 6 , 3 8 ( P a . 2 0 0 3 )
. A s p e c i fi c i n t e n t t o k i ll m ay b e p ro v e n w h o ll y b y c i r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e , an d , th e r e fo r e , m ay b e i n f e rr e d fr o m th e d e f

e n d an t ' s
u s e o f a w e a

p o n o n a v i t a l p art o f th e v i c t i m ' s b o dy . I d
. T h e p e r i o d o f r e fl e c t i o n n e e d e d t o
e s t ab l i s h d e li b e rat i o n an d p r e m e d i t at i o n m ay b e a s b r i e f a s a fr a c t i o n o f a s e c o n d
. C o m m o n w e a l t

h
v . R i v e ra , 9 8 3 A
. 2 d I 2 1 1 , 1 2 2 0 ( P a . 2 0 0 9 )
. I n d e e d , th e d e li b e rat i o n an d p r e m e d i t at i o n n e e d e d t o
e s t ab l i s h i n t e n t e x i s t w h e n e v e r th e a s s a i l an t p o s s e s s e s th e c o n s c i o u s p ur p o s e t o b r i n g ab o ut d e ath
. I d
. T h e C o mm o nw e a lth m ay u s e c i r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e t o e s t ab li s h th e e l e m e n t s o f fir s t - d e g r e e
mur d e r , i n cl u d i n g th e e l e m e n t o f i n t e n t. 

### I d. A f t e r a th o ro u g h r e v i e w o f th e e v i d e n c e , th i s T r i a l C o urt fi n d s an d c o n cl u d e s th i s e v i d e n c e , v i e w e d i n a li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e C o mm o nw e a lth , i s s u ffi c i e n t t o s u p p o rt Ap p e ll an t' s
c o nv i c t i o n fo r M ur d e r o f th e F i r s t D e g r e e . F i r s t , s e v e ra l w i tn e s s e s o b s e rv e d Ap p e ll an t an d L i n d a G o r d o n at th e P l y m o uth T av e rn o n th e e v e n i n g o f Ju l y 2 1 5 \ 2 0 1 6 , an d Ap p e ll an t w a s s e e n w e ar i n g
a w h i t e t - s h i rt w i th b l o c k l e tt e r i n g , w h i t e p an t s an d b l a c k & w h i t e c o l o r e d s n e ak e r s . O n th e
m o rn i n g o f Ju l y 2 2 11 d , 2 0 1 6 , s e v e ra l w i tn e s s e s o b s e rv e d Ap p e ll an t ar r i v i n g at T e r

ran c e P o rt e r ' s
r e s i d e n c e c ar

ry i n g b l o o dy w h i t e cl o th e s . T e rr an c e P o i t e r s t at e d Ap p e ll an t a s k e d fo r a c h an g e o f cl o th e s an d g av e M r . P o t i e r th e b l o o dy cl o th e s , w h i c h Ap p e ll an t d e s i r e d M r. P o t i e r t o b urn . 1 4T e rr an c e P o rt e r c a ll e d R o n a l d M o n t an e z , a/k/ a " P un c h o , " t o u s e M r . M o n t an e z ' fir e p i t an d d i d

e v e n t u a ll y b um Ap p e ll an t' s b l o o dy cl o th e s i n M r. M o n t an e z ' fi r e p i t. D e t e c t i v e S e nn e tt , d ur i n g a
s e ar c h o f th e fir e p i t , fo un d s e v e ra l r i v e t s , z i p p e r p u ll s , c o i n s an d " t i ny t e e th l i k e fr o m w h e r e th e
z i p p e r z i p s t o g e th e r , " i n d i c at i n g cl o th e s h a d i n d e e d b e e n b ur n e d i n M r. M o n t an e z ' fi r e p i t , c o n s i s t e n t w i th th e t e s t i m o ny o f M r . P o rt e r an d M r. M o n t an e z . S e c o n d , Ap p e ll an t s t at e d r e p e at e d l y t o M r. P o rt e r th at h e [ Ap p e ll an t ] k i ll e d L i n d a G o r d o n . Ap p e ll an t s t at e d t o M r. P o rt e r " I k i ll e d L i n d a , " " fu c k th e b i t c h , fu c k h e r , " " I kn o w th e b i t c h i s d e a d , " an d o th e r s i m i l ar s t at e m e n t s . A c c o r d i n g t o M r . P o rt e r , Ap p e ll an t s t at e d h i s r e a s o n fo r k ill i n g L i n d a G o r d o n w a s th at L i n d a G o r d o n w a s " g o i n g t o l e av e h i m a l o n e " an d " s h e w a s g o i n g t o t e ll , " r e fe rr i n g t o a ll e g e d b ank ro b b e r i e s . W h i l e b e i n g g i v e n a r i d e h o m e fr o m M r. P o t i e r , b o th M r. P o rt e r an d M r. M o n t an e z o v e r h e ar d Ap p e ll an t s ay " s h e ' s n o t g o i n g t o s e n d m e t o j a i l. " I n
a d d i t i o n , Ap p e ll an t , w h i l e i n c ar c e rat e d fo r th e s e c r i m e s , att e mp t e d t o fa b r i c at e a s t o r

y w i th L am o n t P h i ll i p s , i n o r d e r t o b l am e th e mur d e r o f L i n d a G o r d o n o n T e rran c e P o t i e r. T h i r d , p hy s i c a l e v i d e n c e fo un d at th e c r i m e s c e n e , i n s i d e o f Ap p e ll an t ' s v e h i cl e an d o n Ap p e ll an t' s r i n g c o nn e c t s Ap p e ll an t t o th e mur d e r o f L i n d a G o r d o n . A kn i f e w a s fo un d b y D e t e c t i v e - S e r g e an t J anu s an d D e t e c t i v e H e rt e l tw e n ty f e e t ( 2 0 ' ) fr o m th e c r i m e s c e n e o n th e n o rth
s i d e o f E a s t l 9 1 h S tr e e t i n a d e n s e l y - w o o d e d ar e a . D e t e c t i v e K e n s i ll , w h o c o ll e c t e d th e kn i fe fr o m th e c r i m e s c e n e , o b s e rv e d a r e d s ub s t an c e o n th e kn i fe , w h i c h s h o w e d p r e s ump t i v e l y fo r b l o o d
. D N A t e s t i n g o f th e b l o o d o n th e kn i fe h an d l e an d b l a d e , c o n d u c t e d b y J i lli an C ro u c h , fo r e n s i c D N A s c i e n t i s t w i th th e P e nn s y l v an i a S t at e P o l i c e , i n d i c at e d p o s i t i v e l y fo r th e p r e s e n c e o f L i n d a G o r d o n ' s D N A
. A l s o , D e t e c t i v e R a g e r o b s e rv e d b l o o d tran s fe r o n th e dr i v e r ' s s i d e o f Ap p e ll an t
s i l v e r C a d i ll a c v e h i c l e . D N A t e s t i n g o f tw o ( 2 ) s w ab s fr o m Ap p e ll an t' s s i l v e r C a d i ll a c v e h i cl e , c o n d u c t e d b y J i lli an C ro u c h , fo r e n s i c D N A s c i e n t i s t w i th th e P e nn s y l v an i a S t at e P o l i c e , i n d i c at e d
a m i x o f tw o ( 2 ) i n d i v i d u a l s , an d Ap p e ll an t an d L i n d a G o r d o n c ann o t b e e x cl u d e d a s p o t e n t i a l



### 1 5c o n tr i b ut o r s o f th e m i x t ur e , b a s e d u

p o n a c o mp ar i s o n o f th e kn o w n r e fe r e n c e s o f Ap p e ll an t' s an d L i n d a G o r d o n ' s b l o o d
. M o r e o v e r , D e t e c t i v e R a g e r o b s e rv e d a r e d s ub s t an c e o n Ap p e ll an t' s g o l d
r i n g , w h i c h w a s s e i z e d fr o m Ap p e ll an t d ur i n g b o o k i n g . D N A t e s t i n g o n Ap p e l l an t ' s r i n g , c o n d u c t e d b y J i ll i an C ro u c h , fo r e n s i c D N A s c i e n t i s t w i th th e P e nn s y l v an i a S t at e P o l i c e , i n d i c at e d
a m i x o f tw o ( 2 ) i n d i v i d u a l s , an d Ap p e ll an t an d L i n d a G o r d o n c ann o t b e e x cl u d e d a s p o t e n t i a l
c o n tr i b ut o r s o f th e m i x t

ur e , b a s e d u

p o n a c o mp ar i s o n o f th e kn o w n r e fe r e n c e s o f Ap p e ll an t' s an d L i n d a G o r d o n ' s b l o o d
. F i n a ll y , Y
- s p e c i fi c D N A t e s t i n g o f th e r e d d i s h
- b ro w n s ub s t an c e fo un d o n L i n d a G o r d o n ' s fi n g e rn a i l cl i p p i n g s , c o n d u c t e d b y J ill i an C ro u c h , fo r e n s i c D N A s c i e n t i s t w i th th e P e nn s y l v an i a S t at e P o l i c e , i n d i c at e d a p art i a l Y c hr o m o s o m e (l O o f 1 6 ar e a s p r e s e n t ) , w h i c h
m at c h e d th e kn o w n r e f e r e n c e fo r Ap p e ll an t , m e an i n g n e i th e r Ap p e ll an t n o r Ap p e ll ant ' s p at e rn a ll y - r e l at e d m a l e r e l at i v e s c an b e e x cl u d e d a s a c o n tr i b ut o r o f th i s s u b s t an c e . F o urth , D r . V e y , fo ll o w i n g h i s c o mp l e t i o n o f a fu ll aut o p s y o f L i n d a G o r d o n , c o n cl u d e d L i n d a G o r d o n d i e d a s a r e s u lt o f s e v e ra l s h ar p fo r c e i n

j ur y w o un d s , i
. e . kn i fe w o un d s , i n t o h e r t o r s o , an d th e s h ar

p fo r c e i n

j ur y w o un d s c o u l d h av e b e e n c au s e d b y th e kn i fe r e c o v e r e d b y D e t e c t i v e K e n s i ll fr o m th e c r i m e s c e n e . F i n a ll y , s e v e ra l s urv e i ll an c e v i d e o s s h o w a l i g h t - c o l o r e d C a d ill a c , m at c h i n g th e d e s c r i p t i o n
o f Ap p e ll an t ' s s i l v e r C a d i ll a c v e h i cl e , w a s s e e n i n th e ar e a o f E a s t 1 9 t h S tr e e t at 6 : 0 0 a . m . o n Ju l y 2 2 11 d , 2 0 1 6 , w h e r e an d w h e n th e mur d e r o c c ur r e d
. T h i s v e h i cl e i s s e e n l e av i n g E a s t 1 9 t h S tr e e t t e n (1 0 ) m i nut e s l at e r. B a s e d u p o n th e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d , th e C o mm o nw e a l th d e m o n s trat e d Ap p e ll an t k i ll e d L i n d a G o r d o n b y s t ab b i n g L i n d a G o r d o n tw e n ty ( 2 0 ) t i m e s i n th e fr o n t an d b a c k o f L i n d a G o r d o n ' s t o r s o an d u p p e r l e f t e x tr e m i t i e s . M o r e o v e r , b a s e d u p o n s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e o f Ap p e ll an t ' s s t a

b b i n g o f L i n d a G o r d o n , s p e c i fi c i n t e n t h a s b e e n d e m o n s trat e d b y Ap p e ll an t ' s u s e
o f a d e a d l y w e a

p o n . 

### S e e H a n i b le, 8 3 6 A. 2 d at 3 8
. F i n a ll y , Ap p e ll an t' s s t at e m e n t s d e m o n s trat i n g

1 6h e k i ll e d L i n d a G o r d o n b e c au s e M s . G o r d o n kn e w o f a ll e g e d b ank r o b b e r i e s an d M s . G o r d o n w a s

c h e at i n g o n Ap p e ll an t d e m o n s trat e Ap p e ll an t a c t e d w i ll fu ll y , d e li b e rat e l y an d w i th p r e m e d i t at i o n . 

### S e e R i v e ra , 9 8 3 A
. 2 d at I 2 2 0
. T h e r e fo r e , th e C o mm o nw e a lth p r e s e n t e d s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o
s u p p o rt th e j ur

y ' s d e c i s i o n i n th at Ap p e ll an t i s g u i lty o f M ur d e r o f th e F i r s t D e g r e e . b ) A g g r a v a t e d A s s a u l t A p e r s o n i s g u i lty o f A g g rav at e d A s s au lt i f h e . . . c au s e s s e r i o u s b o d i l y 

### i nj ury i n t e n t i o n a ll y , k n o w i n g l y o r r e c k l e s s l y un d e r c i r c um s t an c e s m an i fe s t i n g e x tr e m e i n d i ff e r e n c e t o th e v a l u e o f hum an li f

e . 

### S e e 1 8 Pa . 

### C. 

### S. §2 7 0 2 ( a )( l )
. " S e r i o u s b o d i l y i n

j ur y " i s d e fi n e d a s " b o d i l y i n j ur y
w h i c h c r e at e s a s ub s t an t i a l r i s k o f d e ath o r w h i c h c au s e s s e r i o u s , p e rm an e n t d i s fi g ur e m e n t , o r p r o tra c t e d l o s s o r i mp a i rm e n t o f th e fun c t i o n o f any b o d i l y m e mb e r o r o r g an . " 

### S e e 1 8 Pa . 

### C. S. 

### §2 3 0 1
. B a s e d u

p o n th e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a b o v e t o s u

p p o rt th e j ur

y ' s c o nv i c t i o n o f Ap p e ll an t fo r M ur d e r o f th e F i r s t D e g r e e , th i s T r i a l C o urt fi n d s an d c o n cl u d e s th e e v i d e n c e , v i e w e d i n a li g h t
m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e C o mm o nw e a l th , i s s u ffi c i e n t t o s u p p o rt th e j ur

y ' s c o nv i c t i o n o f Ap p e ll an t fo r A g g rav at e d A s s au l t. T h e C o mm o nw e a l th p r e s e n t e d e v i d e n c e th at Ap p e ll an t s t ab b e d L i n d a G o r d o n tw e n ty ( 2 0 ) t i m e s , w h i c h c au s e d h e r d e ath , an d , b a s e d u p o n Ap p e ll an t ' s m o t i v e fo r k i ll i n g L i n d a G o r d o n , i
. e . L i n d a G o r d o n w a s c h e at i n g o n Ap p e ll an t an d a l s o kn e w o f a ll e g e d ro b b e r i e s
c o mm i tt e d b y Ap p e ll an t , Ap p e ll an t ' s k ill i n g o f L i n d a G o r d o n m an i f e s t e d e x tr e m e i n d i ff

e r e n c e t o th e v a l u e o f L i n d a G o r d o n ' s li fe
. T h e r e fo r e , th e C o mm o nw e a lth p r e s e n t e d s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o
s u p p o rt th e j ur

y ' s d e c i s i o n i n th at Ap p e ll an t i s g u i lty o f A g g rav at e d A s s au l t.
c ) R e c kl e s s l y E n d a n g e r i n g A n o t h e r P e r s o n A p e r s o n c o mm i t s th e c r i m e o f R e c k l e s s l y E n d an g e r i n g A n o th e r P e r s o n i f h e r e c k l e s s l y
e n g a g e s i n c o n d

u c t w h i c h p l a c e s o r m ay p l a c e an o th e r p e r s o n i n d an g e r o f d e ath o r s e r i o u s b o d i l y i n j ur y . 

### S e e 1 8 Pa . 

### C. S
. 

### §2 7 0 5
. 1 7B a s e d u p o n th e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a b o v e t o s u

p p o rt th e j ur

y ' s c o nv i c t i o n o f Ap p e ll an t fo r M ur d e r o f th e F i r s t D e g r e e , th i s T r i a l C o urt fi n d s an d c o n cl u d e s th e e v i d e n c e , v i e w e d i n a l i g h t
m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e C o mm o nw e a l th , i s s u ffi c i e n t t o s u p p o rt th e j ur

y ' s fi n d i n g o f Ap p e ll an t' s g u i lt fo r R e c k l e s s l y E n d an g e r i n g A n o th e r P e r s o n . T h e C o mm o nw e a lth p r e s e n t e d e v i d e n c e th at Ap p e ll an t s t ab b e d L i n d a G o r d o n tw e n ty ( 2 0 ) t i m e s , w h i c h c au s e d h e r d e ath
. Ap p e ll an t ' s a c t i o n d i d m o r e th an p l a c e L i n d a G o r d o n i n d an g e r o f d e ath o r s e r i o u s b o d i l y i n j ur y - s a i d a c t i o n c au s e d h e r d e ath
. T h e r e fo r e , th e C o mm o nw e a l th p r e s e n t e d s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o rt th e j ury ' s d e c i s i o n i n th at Ap p e ll an t i s g u i lty o f R e c k l e s s l y E n d an g e r i n g A n o th e r P e r s o n . 

### d ) P o s s e s s i n g I n s tr

um e n t s o f C r i m e C o nv i c t i o n fo r P o s s e s s i o n o f I n s trum e n t o f C r i m e r e qu i r e s C o mm o nw e a l th p ro v e a d e fe n d an t p o s s e s s e d an i n s trum e n t th at i s c o mm o n l y u s e d fo r c r i m i n a l p urp o s e s , un d e r
c i r c um s t an c e s n o t m an i f e s t l y a p p ro p r i at e fo r l aw fu l u s e , w i th i n t e n t t o e mp l o y i t c r i m i n a ll y . 1 8 P a . C
. S
. 

### § 9 0 7 ; 

### s e e a l

s o C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . F o s te r , 6 5 1 A
. 2 d 1 6 3 , 1 6 5 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 4 )
. T h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d , v i e w e d i n a l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e C o mm o nw e a lth , i s
s u ffi c i e n t t o s u

p p o rt th e j ur

y ' s c o nv i c t i o n o f Ap p e ll an t fo r P o s s e s s i n g I n s trum e n t s o f C r i m e . A c c o r d i n g t o D r . V e y , L i n d a G o r d o n ' s d e ath w a s th e r e s u l t o f s h arp fo r c e i n j ur y w o un d s , i
. e . kn i fe
w o un d s , an d a kn i fe w a s fo un d n e ar th e b o dy o f L i n d a G o r d o n i n a d e n s e l y - w o o d e d ar e a o f E a s t 1 9 1 11 S tr e e t. A t th e C r i m i n a l J u ry T r i a l , D r. V e y s t at e d th e kn i fe fo un d n e ar L i n d a G o r d o n ' s b o dy
c o u l d h av e i n fli c t e d th e s h ar p fo r c e i nj ur

y w o un d s o n L i n d a G o r d o n . F urth e rm o r e , D N A t e s t i n g o f th e kn i fe h an d l e an d b l a d e i n d i c at e d c o n cl u s i v e l y th e p r e s e n c e o f L i n d a G o r d o n ' s D N A
. F i n a ll y , Ap p e ll an t s t at e d t o T e r ran c e P o rt e r th at h e " s t ab b e d L i n d a . " T h e r e fo r e , th e r e i s s u ffi c i e n t
c i r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e t o d e m o n s trat e Ap p e ll an t p o s s e s s e d th e kn i f e fo un d n e ar L i n d a G o r d o n ' s b o dy an d e mp l o y e d s a i d kn i fe i n a c r i m i n a l m ann e r , i
. e . th e mur d e r ( v i a num e ro u s s t ab b i n g s ) o f

1 8L i n d a G o r d o n . T h e r e fo r e , th e C o mm o nw e a l th p r e s e n t e d s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o rt th e j ur

y ' s d e c i s i o n i n th at Ap p e ll an t i s g u i l ty o f P o s s e s s i n g I n s trum e n t s o f C r i m e . e ) Ab u s e o f a C o r

p s e A p e r s o n w h o tr e at s a c o r p s e i n a w ay th at h e kn o w s w o u l d o utra g e o r d i n ar y fam i l y s e n s i b i l i t i e s i s g u i l ty o f th e c r i m e o f Ab u s e o f a C o r p s e . 1 8 Pa . 

### C. S. § 5 5 1 0
. T h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d , v i e w e d i n a l i g h t m o s t fav o ra b l e t o th e C o mm o nw e a l th , i s
s u ffi c i e n t t o s u

p p o rt Ap p e ll an t ' s c o nv i c t i o n o f Ab u s e o f a C o r p s e . T h e e v i d e n c e d e m o n s trat e s Ap p e ll an t s t ab b e d L i n d a G o r d o n tw e n ty ( 2 0 ) t i m e s . T h e r e a ft er , Ap p e ll an t l e ft L i n d a G o r d o n ' s b o dy o n a g ra s s y ar e a o n th e s o uth s i d e o f E a s t 1 9 1 11 S tr e e t. L i n d a G o r d o n ' s b o dy w a s n o t d i s c o v e r e d un t i l a f

t e r 8 : 0 0 a . m , o n Ju l y 2 2 n d , 2 0 1 6
. D r. V e y c o n cl u d e d , b a s e d u p o n th e o n s e t o f
r i g o r m o rt i s an d n o n - fi x e d li v o r m o rt i s , L i n d a G o r d o n w a s d e c e a s e d fo r l e s s th an e i g h t e e n (1 8 ) h o ur s . F urth e rm o r e , s e v e ra l w i tn e s s e s s t at e d i t h a d b e e n ra i n i n g h e av i l y aro un d 6 : 0 0 a . m . o n Ju l y 2 2 n d , 2 0 I 6 , m e an i n g L i n d a G o r d o n ' s b o dy w a s l e f t i n th e p o ur i n g ra i n fo r s e v e ra l h o ur s . S e e C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . S m it h , 

### 5 6 7 A. 2 d 10 7 0 , 

### I 0 7 3 ( P a . S u p e r. 1 9 8 9 ) ( c o n c e a l i n g a c o r p s e fr o m p ro p e r
auth o r i t i e s , an d fa i l i n g t o m ak e ar ran g e m e n t s fo r b ur i a l , s u s t a i n e d c o nv ic t i o n o f ab u s e o f c o r p s e )
. T h e r e fo r e , th e C o mm o nw e a l th p r e s e n t e d s u f fi c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o s u

p p o rt th e j ur

y ' s d e c i s i o n i n th at Ap p e ll an t i s g u i l ty o fAb u s e o f a C o r p s e . f) T amp e r i n g w i th o r F ab r ic a t i n g P hy s i c a l E v i d e n c e T o e s t ab l i s h th e o ff

e n s e o f t amp e r i n g w i th e v i d e n c e , th e C o mm o nw e a l th mu s t p ro v e thr e e i n t e rr e l at e d e l e m e n t s : ( 1 ) th e d e f e n d an t kn e w th at an o f fi c i a l p ro c e e d i n g o r i nv e s t i g at i o n w a s p e n d i n g ; ( 2 ) th e d e fe n d an t a l t e r e d , d e s tro y e d , c o n c e a l e d , o r r e m o v e d an i t e m ; an d ( 3 ) th e d e f e n d an t d i d s o w i th th e i n t e n t t o i mp a i r th e v e r i ty o r av a i l ab i l i ty o f th e i t e m t o th e p ro c e e d i n g o r i nv e s t i g at i o n . S

e e 1 8 P a . 

### C. S. § 4 9 1 0 ( 1 ) ; s e e a l s o C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . 

### Mo r a les ; 6 6 9 A. 2 d 1 0 0 3 ,
1 91 0 0 5 ( P a . 1 9 9 6 )
. T h e C o mm o nw e a l th i s n o t r e qu i r e d t o p ro d u c e th e i t e m i n qu e s t i o n , n o r t o p o s i t i v e l y i d e n t i f

y i t , i n o r d e r t o s u s t a i n i t s b ur d e n o f p ro o f. I d. T h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d , v i e w e d i n th e l i g h t m o s t fav o ra b l e t o th e C o mm o nw e a lth , i s
s u ffi c i e n t t o s u

p p o rt Ap p e ll an t' s c o nv i c t i o n fo r T amp e r i n g w i th o r F ab r i c at i n g P hy s i c a l E v i d e n c e . A ft e r mur d e r i n g L i n d a G o r d o n , Ap p e ll an t c o n c e a l e d th e kn i f e h e u s e d t o s t ab L i n d a G o r d o n i n a d e n s e l y - w o o d e d ar e a o n th e n o rth s i d e o f E a s t 1 9 1 11 S tr e e t , w h i c h w a s e xp o s e d t o h e av y ra i n o n th e
m o rn i n g o f Ju l y 2 2 n d , 2 0 1 6
. T h e r e a f t e r , Ap p e ll an t dro v e t o T e r ran c e P o rt e r ' s r e s i d e n c e w i th h i s b l o o dy cl o th i n g . Ap p e ll an t g av e th o s e b l o o dy cl o th e s t o M r. P o rt e r an d i n s tru c t e d M r. P o rt e r t o b ur n s a i d cl o th i n g , w h i c h M r . P ort e r d i d
. B a s e d u p o n th i s e v i d e n c e , Ap p e ll an t , kn o w i n g an o ffi c i a l i nv e s t i g at i o n i n t o th e mur d e r o f L i n d a G o r d o n w a s i mm i n e n t , co n c e a l e d th e kn i f e h e u s e d t o k ill h i s w i fe , L i n d a G o r d o n , an d a i d e d i n th e d e s tru c t i o n o f th e b l o o dy cl o th e s i n o r d e r t o i mp a i r th e
av a i l ab i l i ty o f s a i d e v i d e n c e ; th e r e fo r e , th e r e i s s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o rt Ap p e ll an t' s
c o nv i c t i o n o f T amp e r i n g w i th o r F ab r i c at i n g P hy s i c a l E v i d e n c e . 2 ) Ap p e ll an t ' s i s s u e r e g ar d i n g i n e ff e c t i v e a s s i s t an c e o f c o un s e l i s m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e l y r a i s e d th r o u g h a P o s t - C o n v i c t i o n R e l i e f A c t (" P C RA " ) P e t i t i o n an d s h o u l d n o t b e r e v i e w e d o n d i r e c t a p p e a l a s Ap p e ll an t ' s cl a i m i s n o t b o th m e r i t o r i o u s an d a p p ar e n t fr o m th e r e c o r d , n o r d o e s Ap p e ll an t r a i s e " p r o li x " [ i. e . mu lt i p l e o r l e n g th y ] cl a i m s o f i n e ff e c t i v e a s s i s t an c e o f c o un s e l
. T h e P e nn s y l v an i a S u

p r e m e C o urt h a s h e l d , a b s e n t c e rt a i n s p e ci fi e d ci r c um s t an c e s , cl a i m s
o f i n e ff e c t i v e a s s i s t an c e o f c o un s e l s h o u l d b e d e f e rr e d t o P o s t - C o nv i c t i o n R e l i e f A c t ( " P C RA " )
r e v i e w an d , th e r e fo r e , tr i a l c o urt s s h o u l d n o t e n t e rt a i n cl a i m s o f i n e ff e c t i v e n e s s u

p o n p o s t - v e r d i c t
m o t i o n s an d s u c h cl a i m s s h o u l d n o t b e r e v i e w e d u p o n d i r e c t a

p p e a l. S e e C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . H o l m es , 7 9 A
. 3 d 5 6 2 , 5 7 7 ( P a . 2 0 1 3 )
. S u c h e x tra o r d i n ar y c i r c um s t an c e s i n cl u d i n g w h e r e a tr i a l
c o urt , i n th e e x e r c i s e o f i t s d i s c r e t i o n , d e t e rm i n e s th at a cl a i m ( o r cl a i m s ) o f i n e ff e c t i v e n e s s i s b o th
m e r i t o r i o u s an d a

p p ar e n t fr o m th e r e c o r d s o th at i mm e d i at e c o n s i d e rat i o n an d r e l i e f i s w ar ran t e d
an d th e a dm i n i s trat i o n o f c r i m i n a l j u s t i c e i s b e tt e r s e rv e d b y a ll o w i n g tr i a l j u d g e s t o r e t a i n th e 2 0