Davis, Margo: 2009

Margo Davis was 20 year-old, former Altoona High school graduate was attending Penn State University.  She was last seen alive at 1:00 a.m., in her home, on Tuesday March 3^rd.  She left a message on her computer that she left to go to Hollidaysburg and would be back soon; and she sent her brother a text message that she was going to see Sean Allen, an acquaintance of hers from high school.  She was not seen alive again.

After locating her car at Country Club Terrace, police had it towed to the secure impound lot in Logan Township.  It was there that her body was found inside the trunk on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 by Logan Township police at about 1:15 p.m.  Coroner Ross pronounced her dead at 2:30 p.m.

Police immediately had a suspect, and on the evening of March 4, a home at Fairways at Belmont in Frankstown Township was searched at 7:15 p.m..   Sean Louis Allen, 19, was arrested on at four in the morning on Thursday at the home on Lower Brush Mountain Road, Hollidaysburg.  The high-school dropout admitted speaking with Ms Davis on March 2nd, but denied any contact after that.  His cell phone showed he had called her three times between 1;00 and 2:00 am on March 3rd.  The last call went straight to her voicemail, and her phone was shut off off after that.  Boxes of evidence were taken, and Allen’s car was towed.

Coroner Ross had examined Ms Davis; on March 6, 2009, she reported that death was caused by strangulation and a skull injury; in addition, she suffered injuries as well  to her midsection, face, and an ankle.  According to Dr Harry Kamrow, the pathologist who conducted the autopsy, there were indications that she had been dragged, including wounds and bits of gravel and asphalt, on her.

Search warrants produced much physical evidence linking Allen to Ms Davis in two garbage bags.   Her burgundy cell phone was found in his bedroom.  When police turned it one, the name “Maggie Elizabeth” appeared.  It also had messages from and to him, including directions to his home.  A pair of gloves was found with signs of having had blood on them.  A roll of paper towels of the same design as those found with her body was found, and a smashed flashlight.  In addition, blood was discovered on a sweatshirt, a dinosaur-printed comforter, and a T-shirt, and possibly on his shoes.

By March 7, 2009, Allen had arranged for attorney Steven Passarello to represent him.  Mr. Passarello had defended numerous homicide cases, and met with District Attorney Richard Consiglio to discuss the details of the investigation.

State police announced on March 9^th that Ms Davis may have died in Allen’s apartment and then been moved to the trunk of her car.

A second search warrant allowed police to return; this time they discovered a bottle of Clorox, frequently used to attempt eradication of blood, and a blood droplet.  Another search warrant was issued, and police removed two computers, one a desktop from Allen’s kitchen, and a laptop.

At the time of the murder, Allen was due to appear in court to plead guilty to a criminal trespass charge dating from April 2008.  He had broken into a Hollidaysburg woman’s home.  She awoke to find him kneeling by her bed; he fled the home.

.Allen was to have his preliminary hearing on March 10^th, but it has been delayed until April 9^th at Paula Aigner’s Magisterial District office.  The delay was requested by defense attorney Steven P. Passarello, and District Attorney Richard Consiglio agreed.

Allen had his hearing on April 10, 2009, in Hollidaysburg before Magisterial District Judge Paula Aigner.  Evidence obtained by the investigating officer, Brian Reidy,was presented that seemed to indicate that Margo Davis had arranged to meet Allen to purchase marijuana.  State police recovered text messages between the Allen and Ms Davis arranging a thirty-dollar purchase, with mistrust on both sides; Ms Davis afraid of being shorted, and Allen being wary of a setup.
Judge Aigner forwarded the homicide charge to the Court of Common Pleas; Allen will next appear for arraignment on May 22, 2009.  District Attorney Consiglio has not ruled out seeking the death penalty.

Although the trial was to begin on November 2, 2009, it was delayed following Attorney Steven Passarello’s request for information.  Judge Timothy Sullivan scheduled a hearing on the request for November 17, 2009.   The request was centered around Verizon; Pasarello sought records on four text messages were received and transmitted from four different cell phones in the days of early March.  Verizon would not comply without a subpeona.  AM 10/9/09

On September 23, 2010, Sean Allen was found guilty of first- and second- degree murder in a jury trial.  An out-of-county jury, from York, heard the evidence.  They did find him not guilty of the charges of third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.  In December of 2010, Judge Timothy Sullivan sentenced Allen to two life-terms, without the possibility of parole.

AM 9/23/10, 12/18/10