Connellsville police officer honored
PITTSBURGH – A senior member of the Connellsville Police Department was recognized Thursday by a federal agency for his role in the apprehension and conviction of a man who killed his girlfriend, her daughter and an unborn child. Police Lt. Det. Tom Cesario was presented a plaque and letter of commendation from the Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms division director Lawrence L. Duchnowski for pursuing the leads that led to the arrest of Joseph P. Minerd, 47, of Bullskin Township.
Minerd, who was formally sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday in connection with the Jan. 1, 1999 deaths of Deana Kay Mitts and her 3-year-old daughter, Kayla Ashley Mitts, was found guilty in May of planting a pipe bomb in the McCormick Avenue apartment that killed the pair and the couple’s unborn child.
“All too often the tedious and special investigative work done by people such as you go unrecognized,” wrote Duchnowski in the commendation letter.
Duchnowski noted that while the explosion was initially deemed accidental, Cesario was not convinced of the determination.
“You solicited the assistance of the (ATF) and the incident was jointly investigated more intensely,” wrote Duchnowski. “On April 7, 1999, you and ATF re-examined the scene and as a result of this search, components of a pipe bomb were recovered.
“You dedicated yourself to this investigation, putting in many long and difficult hours. Failure was not an option to you.”
Taking part in the presentation at the federal courthouse, was ATF supervisor Daniel Boeh, ATF special agent Robert Miller and Shaun Sweeney, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District.
Miller was in charge of the investigation, while Sweeney prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
“Joe Minerd would have gotten away with murdering three innocent people if it wasn’t for Tom Cesario,” said Sweeney.
Boeh said the coordinated effort between the local and federal agencies netted positive results.
“Everyone did a good job,” he said. “You couldn’t have asked for a better team than the three of them (Cesario, Miller and Sweeney).”
Cesario, who was surprised by the accolades, said the arrest and conviction of Minerd was a team effort undertaken first at the local level and then proceeding to the federal level.
“By no means did I do this by myself,” he said. “I never considered what I did as a big part of the case. I only did my job.”
Cesario was on duty when the New Year’s Day blast occurred and was one of the first to arrive at the Rose Garden Apartment complex.
He wasn’t convinced afterwards when arson inspectors ruled faulty natural gas appliances caused the explosion that left the mother and daughter dead just minutes after they had entered the residence.
“I felt it in my gut,” he said. “I knew it wasn’t a gas leak.”
After a metal disk, later determined to be an end cap from a pipe bomb, was found in the abdomen of Deana Kay Mitts, Cesario called the ATF and an investigation was launched by the federal agency.
“(Recognition by the ATF) is a very humbling experience,” said Cesario. “These are people that always do good work and have seen work done well.”
While appreciating the acknowledgement from the ATF, Cesario added that his reward came from knowing that the family of Deana Kay Mitts received closure to a painful time in their lives with Minerd’s conviction.
“I never wanted to let them down,” he said. “They had suffered enough.”
Police Chief Stephen Cooper said he is proud of the more than 20-year veteran and knew that many long hours were spent by Cesario to resolve the case.
“It was very nice for the ATF to recognize the fine work he did on the case,” he said.