STATE POLICE ASKING QUESTIONS AGAIN

STATE POLICE ASKING QUESTIONS AGAIN

The Weekly Recorder
July 4, 2008

Washington-In spite being one of the most infamous homicides in Washington County history, the Election Day Massacre of Fred Brilla and Martin Brahler remains unsolved. But according to our sources, the PA State Police are actively reinvestigating the murders.

On election day 2003, the bodies of Fred Brilla and Martin Brahler were found murdered in Prices Tavern along Route 19 in North Strabane Township. Both men had received three bullet wounds and were gunned down “execution style” by unknown assailants.

The murder was more highly charged than most because Brilla had recently defeated then District Attorney John Pettit in high profile lawsuit over forfeiture of Brilla’s assets. The result of their long standing dispute was that Pettit was ordered to pay restitution to Brilla totally initially nearly $100,000 (which was later reduced).

The county’s insurance agency would not pay the fine, so Pettit requested that Washington County pay the fine. Commissioners Diana Irey and John Bevec voted to pay taxpayer funds to cover the fines of Pettit, a stance that was later upheld by the State Supreme Court.

But Controller Michael Namie argued that the county could not pay Pettit’s fine. The result was a four year legal battle that eventually resulted in a Pettit victory.

But within one week of Namie’s stance against Pettit, Brilla was found murdered in North Strabane. The resulting negative publicity from Brilla had already damaged the reputation of Pettit and the subsequent murder did little to enhance his political future.

Pettit quickly moved to arrest Gerald Gregg of North Franklin Township as the hitman in the murders. Gregg pleaded his innocence and after nearly two years, he became the first person acquitted of murder in Washington County in 32 years.

Now sources are stating that the State police are certain that Gerald Gregg was not the murderer and that another alleged conspirator Tony Cohen was not present the night of the homicide.
Sources are reporting that some questioning has been directed towards former District Attorney John Petitt and the nature, if any, of his involvement with the homicide and the subsequent investigation.

Petitt was briefly considered a suspect by the State Police during the initial investigation, but was cleared within the first days preceding the murders.

Other questioning is believed to center on the role of Dirk Barfield Sr and Mary Mahoney on the night of the homicide. Both testified that they were present at the murder, but were not involved in the killing.

Sources are also reporting that Troop B of the PA State Police barracks is not currently involved in the investigation, but instead it is being handled by State Police from outside the area. This news was considered to be wise by most observers this week. One local attorney stated “That is very wise of them” in regards to conducting the investigation without local state police.

Petitt is currently the subject of a Federal Grand Jury that has been meeting since early this year regarding possible misconduct in his office. He was defeated by nearly 2 to one margin in 2007 by newly elected District Attorney Steve Toprani after seeking a record seventh term in office.

Editors Note: An investigation does not mean that someone is guilty of a crime only that the police are looking at every possibility.