Editor’s note: This is last in a two-part series

By Amy Cherry
Daily Press Staff

District Attorney Bradley Kraus questioned numerous witnesses during Friday’s preliminary hearing of Lawrence E. Donachy, 33, of St. Marys, in the 1999 homicide of Irene Challingsworth.

The first witness called to the stand was Kelly Bauer, Challingsworth’s daughter. According to Bauer, she saw her mother three times on April 5, 1999. After Challingsworth visited Bauer at her place of work around 3:30 p.m., Bauer stopped by her mother’s home on Walnut St. to pick up her daughter around 5 p.m. Challingsworth then visited Bauer’s apartment later that evening excited about a $1,000 winning lottery ticket.

The last time Bauer saw her mother was around 7:40 p.m. Challingsworth and Bauer’s daughter walked to the nearby Uni-Mart on S. Michael St. to see what to do with the ticket. Upon returning from the convenience store, she departed the apartment between 8:55 - 9 p.m.

Diane Scutella was working at the Consolidated News Agency on Depot St. that same evening when Challingsworth visited the store between 6-7 p.m., to inquire about how to cash her lottery ticket. Scutella was unsure of the procedures and informed Challingsworth she would contact her supervisor and contact her later that evening. Scutella called Challingsworth around 8:45 p.m.

Also testifying was retired St. Marys Police Officer William Brem. While working the 11 p.m. - 7 a.m. shift, Brem stopped by the S. Michael St. Uni-Mart store. Shortly after 11 p.m. Brem recognized Donachy utilizing the pay phone located outside the store. After using the phone, Brem said Donachy crossed the street and began walking north, toward town. Brem exited the store and passed Donachy in his patrol car, near Wendel Rd., approximately eight tenths of a mile from the crime scene.

Brem added that he stopped at the St. Marys Country Club driveway where he waited for Donachy to walk by. Brem stayed there for 15-20 minutes, before leaving without seeing Donachy.

Though Brem said he did not file a written report, he informed several fellow officers about seeing Donachy.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper David Ray, lead investigator on the case, testified that he, along with SMPD Lt. Scott Neal, served a search warrant on Donachy, on Feb. 19, 2008 at the state prison in Albion. The search warrant was to obtain a confirmation DNA sample to compare against the crime scene DNA which was matched to Donachy.

According to Brem, Donachy said “I didn’t rape and kill that woman. I didn’t have to.”

Following witness testimonies, Defense Attorney Jim Martin motioned to have all charges dismissed including homicide, rape, burglary, aggravated assault, criminal attempt at arson and unlawful restraint.

District Judge Donald Wilhelm ruled there was enough evidence presented in the case to hold Donachy over for trial.