After thirteen years, the police in Masontown, Pennsylvania, have finally brought charges against the person they believe to be responsible for the death of a man.
The arrest of Frank Timothy Campbell Jr., 38, was made possible by the discovery of a “pristine” cigarette at the scene of the crime. Campbell Jr. was charged on Wednesday with the murder of Leon Mickens, 35, which occurred in August of 2011. This information was provided by Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele.
No one had ever been charged in connection with Mickens’s murder, even though he had been shot to death more than a decade ago.
A statement made by the District Attorney to the Herald-Standard stated that the cigarette was discovered “within a couple of inches to a foot to the initial blood splatter.”
His criminal homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person are all charges that have been brought against him, according to the court documents.
It was on July 3 that Aubele announced that the cold case had been solved. He explained that the arrest was made possible by a combination of DNA evidence and the identification of a witness.
Aubele told the publication that the DNA evidence on the cigarette sealed the deal, although Campbell has been a suspect in the cold case ever since the murder occurred thirteen years ago. “It puts him right there,” Aubele said.
Destiny Mickens, the victim’s daughter, expressed her feelings to independent News after Campbell was charged with the crime, saying, “I feel a lot of emotions now.” “I am very blessed, and my family is very blessed that this day has finally arrived,” she was quoted as saying next.
Online records indicate that a preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled; nonetheless, he is now being held in state jail on accusations that are unrelated to the case.