DA Will Seek Death Penalty For Death Of Elderly Man

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Allegheny County District Attorney will seek the death penalty for a man accused of killing a 73-year-old man in McKees Rocks in June.

According to the Allegheny County District Attorney's Facebook page, D.A. Stephen Zappala informed the Court of Common Pleas of the decision Friday.

Branden Frazier, 25, of Stowe Township, was arrested on June 3 and charged with killing 73-year-old Benito Nicoletti of McKees Rocks.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

Nicoletti was found dead in his home on June 1. Officers were called to his home after family members said they had been unable to get in touch with Nicoletti for a couple of days. The cause of death was blunt force trauma.

According to a criminal complaint, neighbors said they saw Frazier in the area in the days before Nicoletti was found dead. He reportedly asked where he could buy a gun and was seen with Nicoletti's car, which was found less than a mile away from his house on June 2.

Frazier was charged with homicide, burglary, receiving stolen property and theft.