TIMELINE: Murder of 4 men in Bucks County, Pa.

KTRK logo
Friday, July 14, 2017
What you need to know: Timeline in disappearance of 4 young men in Pennsylvania
The disappearance of four local men has been at the center of a massive search in Bucks County.

SOLEBURY TWP., Pa. -- The disappearance of four Pennsylvania men prompted an investigation that led to a massive search in Bucks County over the past week, and eventually homicide charges against two men.

The suspects are identified as 20-year-old Cosmo DiNardo of Bensalem, Pa., and 20-year-old Sean Kratz of Northeast Philadelphia.

The victims are Dean Finocchiaro, 19, of Middletown Twp.; Mark Sturgis, 22, of Pennsburg; Tom Meo, 21, of Plumstead; and Jimi Patrick, 19, of Newtown.

Remains found in Bucks County: Katherine Scott reports during Action News Mornings on July 13, 2017.

Remains of all four men were found at a farm owned by DiNardo's family.

The events of this case can be traced back to the day after Independence Day.

TIMELINE:

Wednesday, July 5

-Last reported sighting of Jimi Patrick.

Friday, July 7

-Thomas Meo's girlfriend receives her last text message from him.

-Mark Sturgis, a good friend and co-worker of Meo, is last seen. Investigators say he told his father he was going to meet Meo.

-A license plate reader on Street Road in Solebury Township captures a pickup truck belonging to 20-year-old Cosmo DiNardo of Bensalem. The location is near a property on Aquetong Road, which is owned by the DiNardo family.

-A few seconds later, a Nissan Maxima owned by Meo is captured by the license plate reader.

-Last known sighting of Dean Finocchiaro.

LINK: Full coverage of the search in Bucks County

Saturday, July 8

-Meo and Sturgis fail to report to work.

-Meo's mother calls police to report him missing.

-A friend says DiNardo tried to sell him a Nissan for $500; investigators allege it is Meo's vehicle.

Sunday, July 9

-Sturgis' vehicle is located in the area of Peddler's Village.

-Meo's Nissan Maxima is found at a property owned by the DiNardo family in the 2800 block of Aquetong Road.

-The location is near the license plate reader that captured Meo and DiNardo's vehicles, and also near Peddler's Village.

-Police say a search of the property revealed the keys and title of the vehicle. Investigators say the title was not signed by Meo, indicating no legal transfer of ownership.

-Diabetic supplies, believed to be Meo's, are also found in the vehicle. Meo would not willingly leave those supplies behind, the family tells investigators.

-DiNardo tells detectives he was driving a silver 2016 Ford pickup on the night of July 7, with the same tag that was picked up by the license plate reader.

-Sturgis' family reports him missing to state police.

Monday, July 10

-Police begin to focus their search on farmland owned by the DiNardo family on Upper Mountain Road near Route 202 in Solebury Twp.

-Cosmo DiNardo is arrested on a weapons offense from February. His bail is set at 10 percent of $1 million.

Tuesday, July 11

-The Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub calls DiNardo a "person of interest" in the case.

-Weintraub says he believes "foul play" is involved in the disappearances.

-DiNardo is released after posting bail.

Wednesday, July 12

-Weintraub announces that investigators have found 'important' evidence, but does not elaborate.

-DiNardo is arrested again, this time on charges he stole Meo's vehicle.

-Bail for DiNardo is set at $5 million cash. The judge says it's the highest bail she's ever set.

VIDEO: Cosmo DiNardo arrives at Bucks County prison. See raw video from Chopper 6 on July 12, 2017.

Thursday, July 13

-At a midnight news conference, Weintraub announces that human remains were found.

-Among those remains are those of Dean Finocchiaro.

-On Thursday evening, Cosmo DiNardo's attorney tells reporters that his client has confessed to "participating in or committing" the murders of all four men. The confession came in exchange for the D.A. taking the possibility of the death penalty off the table, DiNardo's lawyer said.

Friday, July 14

-A man from Northeast Philadelphia is taken into custody in relation to the Bucks County killings. Authorities would later identify that man as 20-year-old Sean Kratz.

-In a news conference, Weintraub announces that DiNardo and Kratz have been charged with criminal homicide in the killings.

-DiNardo and Kratz are arraigned. Both men are denied bail.

Bucks Co. D.A. holds news conference on missing men. Jim Gardner reports during breaking news at midnight on July 13, 2017.

----------

RELATED: Family, neighbors search for answers

RELATED: DA releases details of four Bucks County killings

Copyright © 2024 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.