Published Thursday, December 5, 2002
of victim,
suspect
gather
seeking answers
Herald Staff Writer
The family of 39-year-old Thomas E. Blakeley squeezed into the back of District Justice Henry J. Russo's courtroom Wednesday.
Also there was the family of Jerrold Lee Allen, 31, of 630 Thornton Ave., Sharon.
Both wanted answers about last month's incident that left Blakeley, of 44 S. Third St., Sharpsville, dead and Allen in Mercer County Jail.
At 2 a.m. Nov. 16, police found Blakeley lying on the sidewalk outside the Blue Ribbon Grille, 731 Broadway, Farrell. He was bleeding from the face and head. About an hour later, Blakeley was pronounced dead in the emergency room of UPMC Horizon, Farrell, Southwest Mercer County Regional police said last month.
Allen was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault, but has not been charged with the killing, police said.
According to police, Allen admitted punching Blakeley in the face twice and kicking him once in the side after Blakeley had fallen to the sidewalk. Police said they have not determined why the men were fighting.
In court Wednesday, Allen's attorney, public defender Ted Isoldi, asked for a formal written waiver to have the case heard in Mercer County Common Pleas Court. After a video arraignment last month, Common Pleas set bail at $50,000 through the magistrate.
The bond can be altered pending changes in circumstances, District Attorney James Epstein said.
Epstein said detectives continue to investigate the cause of death, Others may be charged, pending the outcome, he added.
Mercer County Coroner J. Bradley McGonigle III has ruled the death a homicide, but is holding off on stating a cause until the results of toxicology tests are in.
Blakeley had cardiac problems, according to the findings of Dr. Eric Veh, a forensic pathologist in the Erie County coroner's office, who conducted an autopsy.
He said the blows to the head were the cause of death, but could have triggered something else.
Outside the courtroom, both families tried to make sense of what happened.
Blakeley's relatives wore T-shirts with his photo that read: "Murdered. Justice for Tom."
Diana Clark, Blakeley's niece, said outside the courtroom, "God always has the final word and he will find goodness for Tom."
Allen's sister, who was also outside, said she thinks he took the rap for something someone else did. "It was not my brother," she said in his defense. "Things aren't appearing like they really happened."