GREENSBURG, Pa. -- The first of 20 witnesses began testifying Thursday at a coroner's inquest about a teenager whose body was discovered near a gun belonging to state Sen. Robert Regola.

---

Watch Bob Mayo's Report

---

Louis Farrell, 14, who lived next door to Regola in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, was found shot dead in the woods behind his family's home in July.

No charges have been filed. The inquest is being held to determine if the death was an accident, a suicide or a homicide.

State police DNA lab expert Frank Kist testified that there was a mix of DNA on the grip of the gun, but he said the major DNA on the gun grip matches that of Farrell.

"I would say, yes, beyond a reasonable, scientific doubt, his profile is present on that gun," said Kist. "How it got there, and when it got there, I don't know that."

The minor DNA on the gun grip excludes a match with either Regola or his son, Bobby, 16, who was friends with Farrell.

"From what I found, I found no DNA profile consistent with them on the grip," said Kist.

Others who took the stand Thursday included two state troopers and a crime scene technician.

Trooper Michael Young testified that when he arrived around 8:30 a.m. on July 22, he was greeted by Farrell's father, Doug, who had blood on his hands and body.

Young told the court that Doug Farrell told him, "This is a parent's worst nightmare."

Young said he was led to the body and saw Farrell's mother leaning over the dead boy. Around the body was a pink flashlight, an unopened cigar, a gun and a shell casing. Young also said a tree branch was lying across Farrell's legs.

Young said the scene had likely been altered because Doug Farrell admitted he picked up his son's body to embrace him and then laid him down. Troopers said Farrell also admitted to handling the gun.

Farrell said that when he noticed his son was missing that day, he went to the Regolas' house to see if Louis was there with Bobby Regola.

Troopers testified that Bobby Regola was home and told Farrell that their family's gun was missing.

It was after Doug Farrell was told about the missing gun that he found Louis' body.

"I think it was clear today, based on the evidence, that that body was moved," said attorney Jon Perry. "Somebody cleansed the crime scene and that when Doug came on the crime scene, he got blood on his hands and put the blood on the gun."

"The crime scene was cleansed, and Doug Farrell is the one who put Louie's DNA on that gun. The reason I say that is the two most important things to fire a gun are to slide the gun back and pull the trigger. There's no DNA evidence from Lou Farrell on any one of those."

State police said they tested Bobby Regola's and Louis Farrell's hands for gun residue but have not said whether any residue was found.

Sarah Kinneer, a state police crime lab expert, testified that she examined microscopic blood droplets found near the barrel of the gun and under one fingernail clipped from one of Louis Farrell's fingers. She said they were consistent with him shooting himself.

But investigators found the largest pool of blood about 3½ feet from the boy's head, said Trooper Brian Kendgia, who added that the pool of blood was consistent with bleeding that would occur from the head wound while the body was still.

Kendgia also said he found blood smeared on a leaf that appeared to have been smudged, as if someone had walked through the blood at the scene, and that the boy's father said he had not walked near the blood.

The inquest will continue Friday, likely including an appearance by Sen. Regola. His son cannot be compelled to testify.

Testimony from the younger Regola was thought to be key, because police said he is considered to be one of the last people to have contact with Louis Farrell before the boy died.

---

The Search

Police removed several items from the Regolas' home in August, including a computer and a safe that contained three bottles of Crown Royal, brass knuckles, computer discs and sheets of pornographic material, according to search warrant documents.

Bobby seemed to know that Farrell was dead before anyone told him and was "somewhat deceptive" when investigators questioned him about how the gun wound up next to the body, according to the police search warrant affidavit.

Mark Rush, who was Regola's attorney at the time, suggested that a 16-year-old boy may not have been capable of fully responding to police troopers' questions by himself.

---

Team 4:
New Details Surface In Regola Gun Case

Related Links:
More County News

Get RSS | E-Mail Alerts

---