Guilty Plea in Montco Body-Dumping Case May Hinge on Related Charges
By Brad Segall
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A Montgomery County, Pa. man accused of helping his father dump his murdered grandfather's body in northeastern Pennsylvania earlier this summer was ready to plead guilty to the charges today, but there was a legal complication.
David St. Onge Jr. was charged with abuse of a corpse, lying to police, and tampering with evidence when he was arrested in July, after authorities found the body of 88-year-old Jack St. Onge in a wooded area in Schuylkill County, Pa.
He was later charged with theft and related offenses for allegedly using the victim's credit cards.
St. Onge Jr.'s attorney wants to separate the two files -- something prosecutor Lauren McNulty opposes.
"It's the Commonwealth's position, and we're hoping to litigate this very quickly, that the cases are consolidated against David St. Onge Jr. right now and it's our intent to try them all as one instead of piecemeal," she said today.
The two sides will argue the issue in court this Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, the defendant's father, David St. Onge Sr., has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including third-degree murder, during his arraignment.
Both men remain behind bars at the Montgomery County Jail.
