J-S38037-20

2020 PA Super 231

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

v.

PRESTON DAQUEN BONNETT 

Appellant

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 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

 PENNSYLVANIA

 No. 1826 MDA 2019

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered June 5, 2019

In the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County Criminal Division at 

No(s): CP-40-CR-0004301-2017

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

v.

PRESTON DAQUEN BONNETT 

Appellant

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 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

 PENNSYLVANIA

 No. 1827 MDA 2019

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered June 5, 2019

In the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County Criminal Division at 

No(s): CP-40-CR-0004302-2017

BEFORE: KUNSELMAN, J., McLAUGHLIN, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*

OPINION BY STEVENS, P.J.E.:

In these consolidated appeals,1 Appellant Preston Daquen Bonnett 

appeals from the judgment of sentence entered in the Court of Common Pleas 

of Luzerne County on June 5, 2019, following his convictions of three counts 

____________________________________________

* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.

1

In our Per Curiam Order entered on December 16, 2019, this Court 

consolidated the appeals sua sponte. See Pa.R.A.P. 513.
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each of Second Degree Murder, Third Degree Murder and Arson on two 

separate informations.2 

The learned trial court, The Honorable Michael T. Vough, provided a 

detailed summary of the facts and procedural history of Appellant’s two 

underlying cases as follows: 

This matter arises from two informations filed by the 

Luzerne County District Attorney against [Appellant] on January 

3, 2018. Information number 4301 charged [Appellant] with one 

count of criminal homicide. Information number 4302 charged

[Appellant] with two counts of criminal homicide and three counts 

of arson endangering persons. These charges resulted from the 

deaths of three children in an intentionally set fire which occurred 

at their home on October 25, 2017.

At approximately 7:08 p.m. on October 25, 2017, the 

Luzerne County Communications Center received a 911 call from 

Erik Dupree regarding an individual on the back porch of the

residence located at 60 Oakwood Drive, Laflin Borough, Luzerne 

County, Pennsylvania. Erik Dupree was sixteen years old and 

resided at 60 Oakwood Drive with his mother, Susan Major, and 

younger brothers, Devon Major and Ezekial Major. The individual 

on the back porch was [Appellant] and he was not permitted at 

the residence. Four minutes later, the Luzerne County

Communication Center received a 911 call from a neighbor 

reporting that the back of the property located at 60 Oakwood 

Drive was on fire. Erik Dupree, Devon Major and Ezekial Major 

were home at the time of the fire and all three died as a result 

thereof.

During the course of their investigation, the Pennsylvania 

State Police learned that [Appellant] had been in a relationship 

with Susan Major. They also learned that [Appellant] had

equipment which allowed him to make fraudulent credit cards and 

he conspired with Susan Major to use the fraudulent cards. This 

activity eventually led to their arrest after a fraudulent card was 

used at a Turkey Hill.

Following the incident at Turkey Hill, [Appellant] continued 

to contact Susan Major and moved into the basement of her 

____________________________________________

2 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2502 (b), (c) and 3301(a)(11), respectively. 
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residence along with a woman named Tyla Griffin. After two days, 

Susan Major told [Appellant] and Tyla Griffin to leave the house. 

Although [Appellant] and Ms. Griffin vacated the residence, they 

left the credit card making equipment inside along with other 

items that Susan Major retained. The credit card making 

equipment was turned over to police.

Even after leaving 60 Oakwood Drive, [Appellant] continued 

his attempts to contact Susan Major. Sometime in October, 2017, 

Susan Major found three pictures taped to her home which

depicted her performing a sex act on [Appellant]. All of the 

pictures contained a note advising Susan Major to text a 

designated phone number or the individual who left the pictures 

would be back. Tyla Griffin identified the phone number and 

writing on the pictures to be [Appellant’s].

Because Susan Major and her children were afraid of 

[Appellant], she obtained cameras contained in Minion figurines 

from the movie Despicable Me. These cameras were placed at the

front of her house as well as the rear near the back porch. The 

cameras had the capability to record and Erik Dupree was able to 

see in front and behind his house by using his cell phone which 

was connected to the cameras.

Prior to October 25, 2017, [Appellant] stated to Tyla Griffin 

that he would burn Susan Major's house down. He made similar 

comments on several occasions even after Ms. Griffin reminded 

him that the children would be in the house. [Appellant] went so 

far as to say Susan Major can watch her kids burn.

On the evening of the fire, Erik Dupree looked at his phone 

and saw [Appellant] on the back porch of his residence. Erik 

Dupree called 911 and within four minutes 60 Oakwood Drive was 

reported to be on fire. He died in the fire along with his two 

brothers. The cause of death for Erik Dupree and Devon Major was 

carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation from a house 

fire. The cause of death for Ezekiel Major was a combination of 

smoke inhalation and burns due to the house fire. Homicide was 

the manner of death for all three boys.

Immediately after the fire, [Appellant] was taken into 

custody on an outstanding warrant for access device fraud as well 

as to be interviewed in connection with the fire. During the

interview [Appellant] denied having a cell phone or a vehicle. He 

also denied being at Susan Major's home at 7:00 p.m. on October 

25, 2017. The state police subsequently determined that

[Appellant] had a cell phone and drove a grayish-green Ford 

Taurus. He also admitted that he had been at Susan Major's 

residence on October 25, 2017.
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A search warrant was executed on a room in which 

[Appellant] and Tyla Griffm were living in the City of Wilkes-Barre 

on October 26, 2017. A pair of jeans and a sweatshirt were

recovered along with a cell phone.

Although the minion containing the camera from the back 

porch was never recovered, the video was obtained. An individual 

wearing the same sweatshirt and jeans seized during the search 

of [Appellant’s] room could be seen on the video. This video 

depicted [Appellant] on the back porch as described by Erik 

Dupree in the 911 call.

[Appellant’s] iPhone was examined by a member of the 

Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crime Unit. This examination 

revealed that the iPhone connected to a wireless router at 60 

Oakwood Drive at 7:08 p.m. on October 25, 2017. Also located on 

the [Appellant’s] iPhone was a photograph of the minion camera 

which was taken at 7:26 p.m. on October 25. The photograph also 

depicted a pair of jeans with the same unique ridge pattern as 

seen in the video and on the jeans taken from [Appellant’s] room 

in Wilkes-Barre. The user account for the Minion camera came 

back to Erik Dupree.

The Commonwealth presented the testimony of a fire 

investigation expert employed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco 

and Firearms. A State Police Fire Marshal also testified as an

expert. Both agreed that the fire was intentionally set and the area 

of origin was at the rear of the home near the back porch. Less 

than two weeks prior to the fire, Susan Major discovered a hole in 

a back window near the area of origin and a beer bottle inside the 

residence on the floor. Accidental and natural causes of the fire 

were ruled out as was a baseboard heater which [Appellant]

alleged to have been the source of the fire.

An expert in electrical engineering and electrical causation 

of fires also testified as a witness for the Commonwealth. He 

inspected the baseboard heater and eliminated it as a potential 

cause of the fire. This expert also examined the home and 

determined that neither the electrical system, nor the electrical 

devices in the home, caused the fire.

Criminal complaints were filed against [Appellant] on 

October 30 and 31, 2017. [Appellant] maintained his innocence 

and proceeded to trial. Following a five day trial which concluded 

on June 4, 2019, the jury found [Appellant] guilty of three counts 

of second degree murder, three counts of third degree murder and 

three counts of arson endangering persons. On June 5, 2019, 

[Appellant] was sentenced to three consecutive mandatory terms 

of life imprisonment on the three counts of second degree murder, 
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ten to twenty years concurrent on the three counts of third degree 

murder and the three counts of arson endangering persons 

merged with second degree murder. On June 10, 2019, an order 

was issued which vacated the ten to twenty year sentence 

imposed on the three counts of third degree murder based upon 

merger and the law as set forth in Commonwealth v. McCamey, 

154 A.3d 352, 358 (Pa.Super. 2017).

[Appellant’s] post-sentence motions were denied on 

October 9, 2019. A notice of appeal was then filed twenty-eight 

days later. After receiving [Appellant’s] notice of appeal, an order

was issued on November 8, 2019 which required that a concise 

statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 

1925(b) be filed by [Appellant] within twenty-one days. A concise 

statement was filed on his behalf on December 2, 2019.

[Appellant’s] concise statement raises weight and 

sufficiency claims for each charge. Error is also alleged in 

connection with the denial of [Appellant’s] post-trial motions 

requesting a judgment notwithstanding the verdict, a new trial 

and a judgment of acquittal. Finally, Appellant alleges error by 

the court in denying his motion for change of venue and motion 

for a Frye[3] hearing. 

Trial Court Opinion, filed 1/6/20, at 1-5 (unnumbered). 

In his appellate brief, Appellant presents the following Statement of 

Questions Involved: 

A. Whether the [c]ourt erred in Denying [Appellant’s] Motion for a 

Frye Hearing challenging the admissibility of Trooper Karri 

Dodson testimony’s [sic] as an expert witness? 

B. Whether there was insufficient evidence to sustain a verdict of 

guilty of each charge in each case?

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3 Frye v. United States, 293 F. 1013 (D.C. Cir. 1923). Under Frye, novel 

scientific evidence must be generally accepted in the relevant scientific 

community before it will be admitted. See Betz v. Pneumo Abex, LLC, 615 

Pa. 504, 44 A.3d 27, 30 (Pa. 2012). Pennsylvania Courts utilize the Frye test. 

See id.
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Brief for Appellant at 4. 

Appellant first argues the trial court erred in failing to hold a Frye4

hearing prior to permitting State Fire Marshall Trooper Karri Dodson to testify

as an expert witness in the field of fire investigation. Appellant's Brief at 34.

5

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently observed “[w]hen reviewing a trial 

court’s grant or denial of a Frye motion, an abuse of discretion standard 

applies.” Walsh Estate of Walsh v. BASF Corp., 2020 WL 4135151, at *6 

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4 Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 702 governs the admissibility of scientific

evidence. The Rule has been written to incorporate the standard set forth in 

Frye and states:

A witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, 

experience, training, or education may testify in the form of an 

opinion or otherwise if:

(a) the expert's scientific, technical, or otherwise specialized 

knowledge is beyond that possessed by the average 

layperson; 

(b) the expert's scientific, technical, or other specialized 

knowledge will help the trier of fact understand the evidence 

or to determine a fact in issue; and 

(c) the expert's methodology is generally accepted in the 

relevant field.

Pa.R.Crim.P. 702. 

5 Appellant also states that the trial court erred by allowing “by extension 

Agent [Robert Seth] Graybill to testify at trial.” Id. However, as we shall 

discuss in more detail, infra, Appellant has waived any argument as to the 

admissibility of Agent Graybill’s testimony for his failure to raise such a claim 

in his concise statement of matters complained of on appeal. See

Commonwealth v Lord, 553 Pa. 415, 420, 719 A.2d 306, 309 (1998). 

 
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(Pa. July 21, 2020) (citations omitted). Accordingly, we apply an abuse of 

discretion standard in our review of the trial court’s denial of the Appellant’s 

Frye motion. In proceeding with our Frye analysis, we are guided by the 

following: 

This Court has explained that scientific evidence is “novel” 

when “there is a legitimate dispute regarding the reliability of the 

expert's conclusions.” Commonwealth v. Safka, 95 A.3d 304, 

307 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citation and quotation omitted). To be 

admissible at trial, the methodology underlying the novel scientific 

evidence “must have gained general acceptance in the relevant 

scientific community.” Commonwealth v. Powell, 171 A.3d 294, 

307 (Pa. Super. 2017).

A trial court is not required to conduct a Frye hearing any 

time a party seeks to introduce scientific evidence. “Rather, a

hearing is warranted only when the trial court has articulable

grounds to believe that an expert witness has not applied accepted

scientific methodology in a conventional fashion in reaching his or 

her conclusions.” [Commonwealth v.]Jacoby, 170 A.3d [1065,]

1091 [(Pa. 2017)]. A party opposing the scientific evidence must 

demonstrate that the expert's testimony is based on novel 

scientific evidence, i.e., “that there is a legitimate dispute 

regarding the reliability of the expert's conclusions.” Safka, 95 

A.3d at 307. “If the moving party has identified novel scientific 

evidence, then the proponent of the scientific evidence must show 

that the expert's methodology has general acceptance in the 

relevant scientific community despite the legitimate dispute.” Id.

(citation and quotation omitted). See also Jacoby, 170 A.3d at 

1091; Powell, 171 A.3d at 307 (rejecting claim that 

Commonwealth, the proponent of expert testimony, had the initial 

burden and explaining that a defendant opposing such testimony 

had the burden of showing the testimony was based on novel 

scientific evidence in order to proceed to a Frye hearing).

Commonwealth v. Cramer, 195 A.3d 594, 606-07 (Pa.Super. 2018).

In the matter sub judice, Appellant asserts Trooper Dodson’s analysis 

and subsequent trial testimony that the fire was incendiary did not comport 

with National Fire Protection Association Publication 921 (“NFPA 921”), the 
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scientific methodology deemed acceptable in the fire investigation community. 

Brief for Appellant at 37. 6 Appellant explains that under this methodology, 

an expert develops hypotheses through inductive reasoning and tests those 

hypotheses through deductive reasoning in an effort to select a final 

hypothesis. Id. at 36, 45. Appellant states Trooper Dodson assumed an 

incendiary cause after improperly ruling out accident as a cause and cites to 

what he claims to be numerous flaws and shortcomings in Trooper Dodson’s 

analysis, despite her representation that she utilized a “scientific method.” 

Id. at 37-45. Appellant concludes:

[T]his is not an issue of whether she used a “novel” scientific 

method, but rather whether she applied the accepted scientific 

methodology set forth in 921 in a conventional fashion in reaching 

her conclusions. [Appellant] contends that she did not. 

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6 The NFPA 921 is a guide for “scientific-based investigation and analysis of 

fire and explosion incidents ... [and] the foremost guide for rendering accurate 

opinions as to incident origin, cause, responsibility, and prevention.” NFPA

921 covers “[a]ll aspects of fire and explosion investigation ... from basic 

methodology to collecting evidence to failure analysis. Guidelines apply to all 

types of incidents from residential fires and motor vehicle fires to management 

of complex investigations such as high-rise fires and industrial plant 

explosions.” In addition NFPA 921’s stated purpose is “to assist individuals 

who are charged with the responsibility of investigating and analyzing fire and 

explosion incidents and rendering opinions as to the origin, cause, 

responsibility, or prevention of such incidents, and the damage and injuries 

which arise from such incidents.” NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion 

Investigators, National Fire Protection Association, 

http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-ofcodes-and-standards?mode=code&code=921 (last visited Aug. 26, 2020).
J-S38037-20

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[Appellant’s] Motion for a Frye Hearing was in essence a motion 

in limine to exclude her testimony based upon Frye, supra. 

On [sic] other words, she could say she used the 

methodology used in section 921, but that doesn’t mean she 

actually did. In Commonwealth’s logic, then, only if an expert 

says they [sic] used a “novel” methodology, is a party allowed to 

challenge the methodology used. In this case, Trooper Dodson 

claimed to use the methodology outlined in NFPA 921, but clearly 

she did not. This does not meet the point and rationale set forth 

in Frye and Grady [v. Frito Lay, Inc., 839 A.2d 1038 (Pa. 2003)]

which is the [c]ourt is a gatekeeper to insure that conclusions 

reached by the experts is [are] within the methodology commonly 

accepted within the fire investigation community.

Cleary, Trooper Dodson did not use that methodology in any 

properly accepted fashion. Trooper Dodson jumped to the 

conclusion that [Appellant] was present at the scene at the time 

and near the point of origin, therefore, he must have started the 

fire. However, in no way was the fire investigated conducted 

properly using the scientific method. The conclusion of incendiary 

was based on assumption and not on science. Thus, [Appellant’s] 

Frye motion should have been granted.

Id. at 47-48 (emphasis in original).

7

 

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7

In 2014, Randy Watson, NFPA Chairman, clarified the acceptability of the 

“process of elimination method” or “negative corpus” method stating:

That section [in Chapter 8] was titled “Inappropriate Use of 

the Process of Elimination.” There was a lot of uproar because 

people didn't understand the section. They felt we were saying the 

process of elimination was a bad thing. That's not the case. What 

we were trying to communicate was that if you misuse the process 

of elimination, it could be bad. In the new edition, we added some 

introductory language to address that the process of elimination 

is an integral part of the scientific method. But if you're making a 

determination for which you have no evidence to support, that's 

not consistent with the scientific method. Whatever determination 

you're going to make in regards to the cause of fire, you have to 

have evidence to support it.
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Prior to trial, the trial court heard argument on Appellant’s previouslyfiled Motion for Frye Hearing. At that time, Appellant did not challenge 

Trooper Dodson’s ability to testify as an expert, nor did he produce an expert 

to challenge her methodology. To the contrary, Appellant disputed that he 

bore the burden to show that she had applied a novel scientific method. See

N.T., 5/17/19, at 2. Appellant reasoned, as he does in his appellate brief, that

he bears no burden of proof. He argued Trooper Dodson improperly applied 

the NFPA 921 standard in reaching her conclusions, and that, if a trial court 

finds articulable grounds to believe an expert witness has not applied scientific 

methodology, a Frye hearing is warranted. Id. at 4-6. 

In response, the Commonwealth disagreed and explained that 

Appellant’s arguments “contend that Trooper Dodson has committed an error 

in applying the science, not that it’s a novel science. Committing errors in 

doing your testing is tantamount to good cross examination, as the Court 

noted, not a Frye hearing to prove that the science is still good.” Id. at 9-10. 

Following argument, the learned trial court reached the following 

conclusion: 

Okay. In reviewing the filings and reviewing the arguments 

this morning, the [c]ourt does not see any novel science in this 

argument. I think, clearly, you’re arguing a mistake in application 

of the science, which is clearly cross examination at trial.

____________________________________________

http:// www .nfpa. org /news-and-research/publications/ nfpa-jourrnal/ 2014

march-april-2014/pov/perspectives (last visited 8/25/20).
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So the [c]ourt is going to find that there hasn’t been any 

novel science presented to the [c]ourt which warrants a Frye

hearing. So the [c]ourt is going to dismiss your request for a Frye 

hearing. 

Clearly, this is a cross examination issue in front of this jury 

for the expert when the expert testifies. You’re alleging mistakes 

in the application of the science; you’re not alleging mistakes or 

new novel science. So I think it’s clearly cross examination for 

trial. 

Id. at 13-14. 

At trial, Appellant did not object to Trooper Dodson testifying as an 

expert in fire investigations. N.T., Commencing 5/29/19, at 532. Trooper 

Dodson testified she began her observations outside the home at 60 Oakwood 

Drive in a clockwise motion. Id., at 538. She articulated what she found 

there and proceeded to detail her discoveries upon entering the structure. Id. 

at 538-42. She studied all the evidence, including surveillance video and 

witness statements, from which she crafted a timeline of the events on the 

evening of October 25, 2017, which began when Appellant appeared on the 

home’s surveillance camera, continued to Erik’s 911 call, and ended when 

neighbors reported the fire. Id. at 561-562. Based on the totality of this 

information, Trooper Dodson opined that an open flame had been introduced

by a human hand to the curtains at the back of the home. Id. at 563-64. 

Defense counsel conducted a lengthy cross-examination of Trooper 

Dodson wherein he called into question the Trooper’s approach to her 

investigation. Significantly, he made no specific mention of NFPA 921 in doing 

so, nor did he attempt to show either that it is the only authority governing 

an arson investigation or that Trooper Dodson had failed to investigate the 
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fire at 60 Oakwood Drive in compliance therewith. Id. at 568-619. Despite 

Appellant’s statements to the contrary, Trooper Dodson explained that she 

began with several hypotheses and eliminated them accordingly. She stated 

she was “trained to have no expectation bias” and “gathered [her] data and 

made [her] full conclusion.” Id. at 574, 592-93. 

In Walsh, supra, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared the 

following:

Whether we refer to the role of the trial court in a Frye

contest as that of a “gatekeeper” is not consequential. What is of 

consequence is the role that the trial court plays during Frye 

proceedings. A careful review of our prior Frye decisions makes 

clear that it is the trial court’s proper function to ensure that the 

expert has applied a generally accepted scientific methodology to 

reach his or her scientific conclusions. To fulfill this function, the 

trial court must be guided by scientists in the relevant field, 

including the experts retained by the parties in the case and any 

other evidence of general acceptance presented by the parties 

(e.g., textbooks). Conversely, trial courts may not question the 

merits of the expert’s scientific theories, techniques or 

conclusions, and it is no part of the trial court’s function to assess 

whether it considers those theories, techniques and/or 

conclusions to be accurate or reliable based upon the available 

facts and data. As is plainly set forth in Rule 702(c), the trial 

court’s role is strictly limited to determining whether “the expert’s 

methodology is generally accepted in the relevant field.” Pa.R.E. 

702(c). The trial court may consider only whether the expert 

applied methodologies generally accepted in the relevant field, 

and may not go further to attempt to determine whether it agrees 

with the expert’s application of those methodologies or whether 

the expert’s conclusions have sufficient factual support. Those are 

questions for the jury to decide.

Id. at *8 (footnote omitted). 

Following a careful review of the certified record, we discern no abuse 

of discretion on the part of the trial court in rejecting Appellant's motion for a 
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Frye hearing. In requesting the hearing, Appellant essentially asked the court 

to usurp the jury’s role to question the merits of Trooper Dodson’s techniques 

and conclusions. See, id. 

Importantly, Appellant failed to make an initial showing that Trooper 

Dodson’s expert testimony was based on novel scientific evidence or in 

contravention to NFPA 921. Indeed, Trooper Dodson specifically testified that, 

in addition to possessing extensive firsthand experience in fire investigations, 

she had spent several days studying evidence in and around 60 Oakwood 

Drive ruling out possible causes of the fire before ultimately determining it 

had incendiary.

The certified record undercuts Appellant's allegations to the contrary 

and demonstrates that Trooper Dodson’s expert testimony was not based on 

novel scientific evidence. For example, Appellant had the opportunity at trial 

to cross-examine her thoroughly as to any alleged error in her application of 

accepted techniques in fire investigation. As a result, the trial court did not 

have “articulable grounds” to believe that Trooper Dodson had failed to apply

an accepted scientific methodology in a conventional fashion in reaching her 

conclusions. Thus, a Frye hearing was unwarranted, and the trial court 

properly rejected Appellant's request for such hearing. Commonwealth v. 

Cramer, 195 A.3d 594, 607 (Pa.Super. 2018).

Appellant next contends the Commonwealth presented insufficient 

evidence “to sustain a verdict of guilty of each charge in each case.” Brief 
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for Appellant at 4. In his Concise Statement of Errors Pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 

1925(b), Appellant similarly stated his intention to question on appeal 

“[w]hether the[re] was insufficient evidence to sustain a verdict of guilty of 

each charge in each case.” See [Appellant’s] Concise Statement of Errors 

Pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 1925(b), filed 12/2/19, at ¶7 (d).”

In its Opinion Pursuant to Rule 1925(a)(1), the trial court found 

Appellant had waived his challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence because 

his concise statement failed to specify the element(s) of the crimes(s) he 

intended to challenge on appeal. Opinion Pursuant to Rule 1925(a)(1) at 7

(unnumbered). In the alternative, the trial court found that even if Appellant 

properly had preserved this claim, it lacked merit. Id. at 8-10 (unnumbered). 

Following our review, we conclude that Appellant’s challenge to the sufficiency 

of the evidence is waived because his Rule 1925(b) statement did not 

adequately identify the errors that he intended to challenge on appeal.

It is well-established that any issue not raised in a Rule 1925(b) 

statement will be deemed waived for appellate review. See Commonwealth 

v. Lord, 719 A.2d 306, 309 (Pa. 1998). Further, an appellant’s concise 

statement must identify the errors with sufficient specificity for the trial court 

to identify and address the issues the appellant wishes to raise on appeal. See

Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4)(ii) (requiring a Rule 1925(b) statement to “concisely 

identify each ruling or error that the appellant intends to challenge with 

sufficient detail to identify all pertinent issues for the judge”). This Court 
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explained in Riley v. Foley, 783 A.2d 807, 813 (Pa.Super. 2001), that 

Pa.R.A.P. 1925 is a crucial component of the appellate process because it 

allows the trial court to identify and focus on those issues the parties plan to 

raise on appeal. 

A Rule 1925(b) concise statement that is too vague can result in waiver 

of issues on appeal. See Commonwealth v. Dowling, 778 A.2d 683, 686-

687 (Pa. Super. 2001) (“a concise statement which is too vague to allow the 

court to identify the issues raised on appeal is the functional equivalent of no 

concise statement at all”).

If Appellant wants to preserve a claim that the evidence was 

insufficient, then the 1925(b) statement needs to specify the 

element or elements upon which the evidence was insufficient. 

This Court can then analyze the element or elements on appeal. 

[Where a] 1925(b) statement [ ] does not specify the allegedly 

unproven elements[,] ... the sufficiency issue is waived [on 

appeal].

Commonwealth v. Tyack, 128 A.3d 254, 260 (Pa.Super. 2015) (citation 

omitted). “Even if the trial court correctly guesses the issues Appellant[ ] 

raise[s] on appeal and writes an opinion pursuant to that supposition the 

issues are still waived.” Kanter v. Epstein, 866 A.2d 394, 400 (Pa.Super. 

2004) (citation omitted, appeal denied, 584 Pa. 678, 880 A.2d 1239 (2005), 

cert. denied, Spector, Gadon & Rosen, P.C. v. Kanter, 546 U.S. 1092, 126 

S.Ct. 1048, 163 L.Ed.2d 858 (2006).

Herein, Appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement is a blanket statement 

wherein he declares the evidence was insufficient to convict him of all charges. 
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However, the statement fails to specify the element or elements upon which 

the evidence was allegedly insufficient to support Appellant’s convictions of 

Second Degree Murder, First Degree Murder and Arson. This failure is 

especially significant herein, where the crimes were comprised of multiple 

elements and arose from two informations. 

Thus, we conclude that Appellant’s sufficiency of the evidence claim is 

waived on appeal. See Commonwealth v. Williams, 959 A.2d 1252, 1257-

1258 (Pa.Super. 2008).

Judgment of sentence affirmed. 

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.

Prothonotary

Date: 9/22/2020