Deyarmin, Dennis: 1975

Dennis J. Deyarmin was just 14 years old when he was stabbed to death in Altoona by William Eugene Kelley, aged 15 years.  The crime took place about May 26, 1975.
The two boys were at the Kelley house at 502 Second Avenue, in Altoona.  They were “fooling around” with a hunting knife when Kelley stabbed the other boy.  Dennis, who had been sitting on the banister, fell off.  Kelley ran into the house and hid the knife in a pile of clothes in his second-floor bedroom.  Meanwhile, Dennis began walking home, to 111 South Sixth Street.  He did not make it.
Dennis collapsed on the sidewalk.  Kelley, who had run after him to see how badly he had been hurt, told his father, Raymond Deyarmin, that Dennis was injured.  AMED was called and transported the boy to the emergency room at Altoona Hospital.  He was pronounced dead at 5:40 p.m.  An autopsy would reveal that the cause of death was acute inner abdominal hemorrhaging in the lower right quadrant.  The blade entered with the cutting edge up, at a sharp angle, and struck the fifth vertebra.
The Altoona City Police were informed of the incident when the AMED vehicle requested assistance.  Five officers and Detective Daniel Disabato began the investigation and discovered the knife.  Captain Albert J. Cone of the youth services division was notified; Attorney Donald Spiece represented Kelley.  He was arrested and placed in Blair County Prison without bond.
Dennis Deyarmin was born on November 13, 1960; the son of Raymond and Jean (McConnell) Deyarmin.  He was an eighth grade student at Logan, and was on the track and field team.  He attended the Juniata Park Church of the Brethren.