Authorities discover human remains in Bucks County, Pa., where 4 men went missing – Washington Post

Here's what you should know about the search in Bucks County. (Amber Ferguson/The Washington Post)

Authorities said they havediscovered human remains in a search for four missing men in Bucks County, Pa., and identified one of the bodies as a 19-year-old who disappeared on Friday.

District Attorney Matthew Weintraub saidin a midnight news conferenceWednesday that investigators found the body ofDean Finocchiaro among human remains discovered in a grave more than 12 feet deep on a rural property in Solebury Township, where they have been searching for the missing men since last week. Cadaver dogs led investigators to the hole, which Weintraub identified as a common grave.

The revelation cameafter authorities named Cosmo DiNardo, 20, of Bensalem, a person of interest in the case andarrested him for stealing a car belonging to one of the missing men.

Weintraub said he is now classifying the case as a homicide, but we just dont know how many homicides. He did not say how Finocchiaro was killed.

[Police continue searching for 4 missing Pennsylvania men, identify person of interest in the case]

Weintraub did not say whether the rest of thebodies were identified as the other three missing men, but said recovery efforts will resume Thursday morning. The first of the men todisappear, Jimi Tara Patrick, 19, was last seen on July 5. Finocchiaro, Mark Sturgis, 22; and Tom Meo, 21, vanished onFriday. Some or all of them appeared to know one another, authorities said.

This painstaking process will go on, Weintraub said. Were going to bring each and every one of these lost boys home to their families one way or another. We will not rest untilwe do that.

The discovery of the remains marked a grim turning point in the arduoussearch for the missing men, which has gripped this picturesque county, one of the wealthiest in the state.Over the weekend,authorities from several local and state law enforcement agencies along with the FBI launched anextensive criminal search effort, focusingon a sprawling farm belonging to DiNardos parents and located in a rural area about 40 miles north of Philadelphia.

Police had initially arrested DiNardo in February after finding him with a 20-gauge shotgun he was not authorized to possess because of his history of mental illness, according to a police affidavit. Authorities initially dismissed the charges but refiled them on Monday, after the disappearances of the four men.

He was released from custody Tuesday night, after DiNardos father posted 10 percent of a $1 million bail. Then, on Wednesday, authorities arrested DiNardo again, accusing him of stealing and trying to sell a 1996 Nissan Maximathat belonged Meo, according to the Bucks County District Attorneys Office.DiNardo allegedly tried to sell Meos car for $500 to a friend, Weintraub said.

Authorities found the car on Sunday, along with Meos car keys and title, in a garage ona Solebury Township property owned by DiNardos parents, Weintraub said.

Meos diabetic kit, which he never went anywhere without, was also found inside the vehicle, Weintraub said. Relatives told authorities that Meo could not have survived without the kit.

Police found Sturgiss car less than 2 miles away from Meos, according to a criminal complaint.

DiNardo was arraigned Wednesday on felony charges of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stole property. A magisterial district judge ordered him held on $5 million cash bail, saying he found that DiNardo is a grave risk.

We bought ourselves a little bit of time, with the charges and bail amount, Weintraub said. It is my hope that he does not post that, but thats his prerogative.

DiNardo has a history of mental illness, and was previously involuntarily committed to a mental health institution after firing a shotgun, authorities said. Prosecutors said he is schizophrenic, a flight risk and a dangerous person, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, adding that his lawyers claimed he was being targeted for his mental health issues.

A lawyer representing DiNardos parents and the owner of the 90-acrefarm, Antonio and Sandra DiNardo, released a statement saying the family is cooperating with the investigation and sympathizes with the relatives of the missing men, the Associated Press reported.

Weintraub emphasized that while authorities have focused on DiNardo, this investigation is still wide open.

We dont pick a person and then try to build a case around that person, Weintraub said.Thats not fair to anyone. As of this moment, he remains a person of interest. But if others arise and we can name them, we will.

The men who vanished seemed to have connections to DiNardo. Meo and Sturgis first met DiNardo when he was looking to sell marijuana, one of Meos friends told the Philadelphia Inquirer. DiNardo and Patrick both went to Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem. DiNardo and Finocchiaro were both in at least one Facebook page for buying and selling ATVs, the newspaper reported.

Two of the missing men, Sturgis and Meo, were good friends and worked together at Sturgiss fathers construction business. Sturgis told his father he would be hanging out with Meo on Friday night, according to a criminal complaint.

The two friends failed to show up for work the following day, and have not been seen ever since. Meos girlfriend last spoke with him through text messages on Friday night, shortly before 7 p.m. After that, Meo stopped responding, according to thecomplaint.

Patrick, the first of the four to go missing, just finished his first year at Loyola University in Maryland, a Jesuit school. He was on the deans list and had no conduct violations, the universitys president, the Rev. Brian Linnane, told the Baltimore Sun.

He had a very successful year, and he is poised for a great success at Loyola, he said. We want to be with him and his family and hope for the best.

About 50 students, faculty and staff gathered at the universitys chapel Wednesday to pray for Patrick and the other three men. Director of Campus Ministry Sean Bray said the group wanted to storm heaven with our prayers for Jimis safe return, honoring a request from Patricks grandmother, the Baltimore Sun reported.

The families of the missing have also kept a vigil throughout the week near the area searched by investigators, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

At this point, as the hours pass, it seems more and more grim, Mark Potash, Sturgiss father, told the Philadelphia Inquirer earlier this week.

He said his son is a skilled guitar player and athlete, and super intelligent. He has three sisters and one brother.

Beitz told the Inquirerhe is good friends with Meo, who he called a talented wrestler and hell of an athlete. Meo, his friend said, isthe most good-hearted, loyal, hard-working young man Ive ever met in my life.

Wil Snyder, 19, who called himself one of Finocchiaros best friends, told the Bucks County Courier Times that Finocchiaro worked a retail job.

Hes a good guy, Snydertold the newspaper, a good friend.

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Authorities discover human remains in Bucks County, Pa., where 4 men went missing - Washington Post