Delaware

‘A Smile That Would Hug You': Grief Over Four Young Men Slain in Bucks County Mystery

Who are the young men who went missing in Bucks County, murdered by another young man who confessed to their killing? Here's a look at what we know now about Dean Finocchiaro, Mark Sturgis, Thomas Meo and Jimi Taro Patrick

One was very funny and introspective. Another was church-going, raised by his grandparents and sent to Catholic school. Two of them worked for a construction company owned by one of their fathers and were lifelong friends.

Co-workers, family members and others who knew the four young men found slain in Bucks County looked back fondly on them this week.

Their disappearance late last week and the confession Thursday by another man to their murders has consumed the Philadelphia region and Delaware Valley.

Here's a look at who the men are:

Dean Finocchiaro1
NBC10
Dean Finocchiaro, 19, went missing on July 7, 2017. Investigators discovered his body buried in a 12 foot hole on a farm in Bucks County nearly a week later. He was one of four men who went missing in the same week.

Dean Finocchiaro, 19
The recent high school grad lived in Middletown Township, Bucks County, near Core Creek Park. He worked in neighboring Langhorne at an ice cream shop after graduating in 2016 from Neshaminy High School.

A co-worker, Bill Tosti, tearfully recounted Thursday Finocchiaro's sense of humor.

"He had a smile that would just hug you," Tosti said. "He was real warm, very friendly, would do anything for anybody, a great teammate to work with."

Finocchiaro was last seen 6:30 p.m. Friday. A father of one of the other victims said he was a friend of Mark Sturgis and Thomas Meo.

Mark-Sturgis-Tom-Meo
Bucks County District Attorney's Office
(L-R): Mark Sturgis & Tom Meo

Mark Sturgis, 22
The oldest of the four victims lived the farthest from the Solebury estate where police are searching. He left his house in Pennsburg, Montgomery County, about 6 p.m. Friday, telling his father as he departed that he was going to meet up with Meo in Doylestown.

His car was found shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday at Peddler's Village, an eclectic shopping center near New Hope.

Sturgis's father, Mark Potash, said his son and Meo had been good friends since childhood. Both worked for Potash's construction company, Potash said.

In a statement released Thursday, Rosanne Potash, Sturgis' stepmother said, “Mark was by far one of the most beautiful souls I have ever met. Handsome, sweet, little dimples, funny, personable, smart and talented. Things will definitely never be the same. Our lives will forever be changed. The loss of him is so indescribable. His father will spend the rest of his life along with myself to make sure Mark gets justice. We will carry his name to do great things in the future in his honor. I feel so blessed to have had him with us. He brightened up everyone’s day around here. My son has lost a big brother. I lost a son and my husband will never be the same without him.”

Thomas Meo, 21
He lived in Plumstead, Bucks County, and worked for the construction company owned by Sturgis' father. His car was found by police inside a crumbling garage on the Aquetong Road border of the Solebury property owned by the DiNardo family.

Cosmo DiNardo, 20, who confessed to killing the four men, allegedly tried selling Meo's car to a friend Saturday afternoon. For that, DiNardo was arrested for the second time in three days and held on $5 million cash bail.

Meo was diabetic and police said they found his insulin pump and glucose meter in the car. He had previously worked at an auto shop in Doylestown.

Jimi-Patrick-Dean-Finocchiaro
Newtown Township Police, Middletown Township Police
(L to R), Jimi Patrick, Dean Finocchiaro

Jimi Taro Patrick, 19
Patrick recently completed his freshman year at Loyola University in Maryland on a full scholarship a statement from his grandparents said.

Patrick graduated from Holy Ghost Prepatory High School in Bensalem, a year after DiNardo. He lived in Newtown with his grandparents and his family attended Saint Andrew Catholic Church in the township.

Monsignor Michael Pickard said Patrick dutifully attended Mass and was "a well-behaved man," adding that he was raised by his grandparents.

"I baptized Jimi as a baby, so I've known him as well, a really great kid," Pickard said. "Jimi was very, very shy and very polite and just a well-behaved young man."

After news of DiNardo's confession Thursday, Holy Ghost Prep issued the following statement: “There are no words that can adequately express our sorrow over the loss of Jimi Patrick, a 2016 Holy Ghost Prep graduate. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to Jimi’s family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the families affected by this tragic event.”

[[434335753, ]]

Contact Us