Greensburg Murder Suspect In Court On Other Charge

GREENSBURG (KDKA) - Testimony wrapped up this afternoon in the trial for one of the suspects charged with killing a woman in Greensburg.

Ricky Smyrnes faces a misdemeanor charge of possessing an instrument of crime in a separate case.

Greensburg Police arrested Smyrnes on Jan. 30 after he was found at a train station at 4:30 a.m. with two screwdrivers, a claw hammer and seven rubber gloves.

A district judge initially dismissed the charge. However, another judge signed a warrant for Smyrnes' arrest two days later when police re-filed the charge.

Smyrnes, wearing a suit, testified on his own behalf and told the judge he had the rubber gloves with him to keep warm in the cold weather and the tools were to protect himself.

Closing arguments will be Thursday morning.

Smyrnes is also facing a homicide charge in the February murder of Jennifer Daugherty.

Daugherty's body was found in the Greensburg Salem Middle School parking lot stuffed in a garbage can and bound with Christmas decorations.

Also charged in Daugherty's murder are: Melvin Knight, Robert Masters, Amber Meidinger, Angela Marinucci and Peggy Miller

Smyrnes, along with Knight and Meidinger, are facing the death penalty in that case.