MERCER, PA. Troopers testify that 2 teens admitted killing counselor

An eyewitness to the assault told about the attack on the counselor.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
MERCER, Pa. -- Authorities said two boys accused of killing a night security counselor at George Junior Republic admitted attacking the victim as part of an escape plan.
However, Anthony Machicote and Jeremy Melvin, facing murder and other charges, never said they had intended to injure their victim, said Pennsylvania state troopers Michael Kokoski and Eric Weller.
The troopers testified at a preliminary hearing Friday for the two teens.
Melvin, 16, of McKeesport, Pa., and Machicote, 17, of North Versailles, Pa., had been sent by an Allegheny County court to George Junior, a nongated residential treatment center for adjudicated juveniles and dependent youth near Grove City.
Authorities said the pair hatched and carried out an escape plot that involved overpowering a night security counselor in the cottage they occupied and stealing his vehicle.
Victim
Wayne Urey, 43, of Mercer, was the night counselor when they made their escape just after 12 a.m. Nov. 10.
An autopsy showed that Urey died of asphyxiation consistent with suffocation and strangulation. He also had multiple rib fractures, blunt force injuries to the head, trunk and extremities, fractures to bones in his neck and various other contusions and abrasions.
Kokoski testified that he interviewed Melvin shortly after the pair gave themselves up in Pittsburgh on the afternoon of Nov. 10.
Melvin told him that he and Machicote devised the escape plan -- Machicote was to distract Urey by asking him for a drink of water and Melvin was to grab him from behind, Kokoski said.
Melvin said he put what he called a choke hold on Urey and tightened the hold because Urey was struggling against Machicote's efforts to tie his hands, Kokoski said, adding that Melvin also said they stuffed two socks into Urey's mouth to keep him quiet.
Went back for key
Melvin said they took $3 from Urey's wallet and his keys and went out of the cottage to Urey's pickup truck but found the steering wheel secured by The Club anti-theft device. They had to go back to where they had left Urey bound and gagged and find the key to The Club, Melvin told Kokoski.
It was at that point that Melvin suspected Urey was dead because he wasn't moving and they could find no pulse. The two then fled in Urey's pickup and drove to Pittsburgh, Kokoski said.
Under cross-examination, Kokoski said that Melvin never said he had planned to hurt Urey and that he decided to turn himself in later in the day after learning Urey was dead.
Weller testified that Machicote told a similar tale during a Nov. 10 interview but also told him the pair decided to escape because they feared they would be blamed for an earlier assault on a different night security counselor.
Machicote admitted punching Urey in the back in an effort to subdue him, Weller said, adding that Machicote expressed regret for what had happened and never said the plan was to injure Urey.
Another George Junior resident offered eyewitness testimony to the assault.
Roommate's testimony
Jermaine Brown, 15, of Philadelphia was Machicote's roommate in Cottage "S" at George Junior and it was in their room that the attack occurred.
Brown said Machicote and Melvin had talked about tying up Urey and stealing his truck at least two days before they actually did it, but he hadn't believed them.
Brown said he was asleep when he heard a loud noise in his bedroom and awoke to see Urey falling to the floor.
Melvin had his hands around Urey's neck, holding him down while Machicote was trying to tie Urey's hands behind his back, Brown said, adding that Machicote struck Urey several times in the back.
Brown said he heard Urey offer to give the pair what they wanted if they let him go and then tell them that he couldn't breathe.
Brown said he fled the room, going to another resident's room where he hid out for several minutes while Machicote and Melvin fled.
When other residents wouldn't help him assist Urey, Brown said, he awakened a night relief person sleeping in the cottage.
That person summoned help, authorities said.
After the hearing, District Justice Lawrence Silvis ordered Melvin and Machicote held for trial on charges of criminal homicide, robbery, theft, conspiracy, aggravated assault and escape.
They are being held in Mercer County Jail without bond