PITTSBURGH -- Text messages that were sent to Monroeville teen Demi Cuccia just before she was stabbed to death were used as evidence in ex-boyfriend John Mullarkey's homicide trial Wednesday.
Cuccia and Mullarkey had a tumultuous relationship that ended tragically on Aug. 15, 2007, when a neighbor heard screams and saw the 16-year-old Gateway High School cheerleader emerge from her Elliott Road home covered in blood, Deputy District Attorney Mark Tranquilli said.
Prosecutors showed the jury at the Allegheny County Courthouse a text message that came from Mullarkey shortly after 1 a.m. on the morning of Cuccia's murder: "Don't let this go I no we had bad times and good and everyone has that we had a lil more bad that just means we have a lot of good to do."
According to prosecutors, Mullarkey sent Cuccia dozens more texts throughout that day -- such as, "Wow... You no you love me and can't live without me," and, "Everything is more important than the guy you love...."
Slideshow: Crime Scene Photos, Text Messages, Memorial GatheringCuccia's responses acknowledged that she was frustrated as she texted "I am I'm mean to you" and "NOTHING IS WRONG STOP WORRYING," prosecutors said.
The final texts between the couple were sent just before 6 p.m. Not long after that, Mullarkey went to Cuccia's house with a knife -- which was shown to the jury in a photograph -- and killed her, prosecutors said.
At 6:21 p.m., a text that said "I stabbed myself at Demi's I love you" was sent to John Mullarkey's mother. The 18-year-old man's bloody phone was later found on the ground outside Cuccia's house.
Desperate text messages had been sent to Cuccia over a two-day span before she was killed, prosecutors said. Some indicated Mullarkey was crying, and one said, "I just want it to be good or done I can't stay like this."
Jurors were shown photographs of the text messages, as well as pictures of a blood trail leading from Cuccia's home and a 16th-birthday balloon surrounded by blood.
Testimony will continue Thursday in Judge Jeffrey Manning's courtroom.
On Tuesday, defense attorney Bob Stewart told the jury that Mullarkey -- who is now 20 -- was not himself on the day of the killing and doesn't remember much of what happened when he went to Cuccia's home looking to get back together with her.
Mullarkey was on Accutane -- a prescription acne medication -- at the time of Cuccia's killing, and may have suffered side-effects suicidal tendencies and depression, said Stewart, who added that he will call witnesses to discuss those medical issues during the trial.
Friends are leaving condolence messages on
a Facebook.com page called "R.I.P. Demi Cuccia."
"Words can't describe my emotions, but I miss you," one message said. "You are watching down over everyone. You are our angel."
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