FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — The trial of David Allen Bosley will begin next week in the Venango County Court of Common Pleas.
The trial will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, May 13, in Courtroom 1 of the Venango County Courthouse. It is expected to last five days.
Bosley is accused of raping and murdering 76-year-old Suzette Nellis on the Oil City bike path. He is represented by Assistant Public Defender Eric Padin.
The Commonwealth is represented by District Attorney Shawn White and First Assistant District Attorney Kyle Peasley.
President Judge Matthew T. Kirtland will preside over the trial.
Suzette Nellis was reported missing on March 26, 2023, after she failed to return home from a walk on the bike path, something she did frequently. Officers from the Oil City Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police, as well as responders from the Oil City Fire Department and others, began to search for her that day.
The following morning, Nellis’ remains were located in an overgrown area between the bike path and the Allegheny River.
An autopsy was performed by Dr. Eric Vey of the Erie County Coroner’s Office, who ruled the manner of death as homicide and the cause of death to be asphyxiation due to strangulation.
Officers identified Bosley as a suspect early into their investigation, according to OCPD Lieutenant Cory Ruditis’ probable cause affidavit filed with the court. Officers interviewed Bosley on April 3, 2023. He denied involvement in the crime.
According to Ruditis’ affidavit, officers collected DNA samples from Bosley. They noted that the shoes he was wearing during their interview appeared to match shoe prints at the crime scene.
Officers observed minor injuries on Bosley’s hands, chest, and face, according to the affidavit.
Bosley was arrested on April 6, 2023, after police say a swab of DNA that was collected from the crime scene was matched to him.
David Allen Bosley is charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, rape forcible compulsion, kidnapping to facilitate a felony, kidnapping to inflict injury or terror, aggravated indecent assault forcible compulsion, and abuse of a corpse.
Bosley was previously convicted of unlawful restraint and simple assault in 1990; simple assault in 1993; and burglary, two counts of criminal attempted kidnapping, criminal attempted rape, aggravated indecent assault, and unlawful restraint in 2000.
