MALVERN, Pa., (CBS) — The Chester County District Attorney says the former neighbor and long-time friend of a Malvern man whose body was found Monday inside the home he shared with his grandmother has been charged with first-degree murder.
Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan says 23-year-old Merritt Dudas, who grew up next door to 21-year-old Drew Ferguson, is charged with shooting him with a stolen handgun, wrapping his body in a sleeping bag and a tarp and then putting a pile of debris over it to conceal it.
Hogan says the murder occurred last Friday and apparently was sparked by an argument.
MALVERN – The Chester County District Attorney’s office Tuesday charged an acquaintance in the death of a 21-year-old man who was found shot to death near his home in the borough Monday evening.
Authorities identified 24-year-old Merritt Dudas of Collegeville as the suspect who is charged with murder, robbery, theft and abuse of a corpse.
According to Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan, the investigation found the attack was not random and the two men had known each other for years.
Hogan said for a period of time Dudas lived in the home next to Ferguson and then with Ferguson at the residence on Miner Street when Dudas was without a place to live.
According to the criminal complaint, Dudas was arrested by police on Tuesday and confessed to the killing.
Hogan said there appeared to be an argument between the men, perhaps over drugs or property, but said he was unsure what the motive for the killing was.
“The argument by any definition was senseless,” he said.
MALVERN – The Chester County District Attorney’s office Tuesday charged an acquaintance in the death of a 21-year-old man who was found shot to death near his home in the borough Monday evening.
Authorities identified 24-year-old Merritt Dudas of Collegeville as the suspect who is charged with murder, robbery, theft and abuse of a corpse.
Drew Ferguson, a 2011 graduate of Great Valley High School living in the 200 block of Miner Street, was the victim, police said.
According to Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan, the investigation found the attack was not random and the two men had known each other for years.
Hogan said for a period of time Dudas lived in the home next to Ferguson and then with Ferguson at the residence on Miner Street when Dudas was without a place to live.
According to the criminal complaint, Dudas was arrested by police on Tuesday and confessed to the killing….“A tragic and senseless murder, but I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that in a very short period of time this was extraordinary police work,” Hogan said, indicating police did in 24 hours what should have taken about two weeks.
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/11/19/police-investigating-after-man-found-shot-to-death-inside-malvern-home/
http://www.dailylocal.com/general-news/20131120/acquaintance-charged-in-fatal-malvern-shooting
http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140919/collegeville-man-admits-to-killing-friend-in-malvern-hiding-body
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Malvern-Homicide-232506101.html
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailylocal/obituary.aspx?pid=168217039
http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view/fh_id/14125/id/2334478
http://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Drew-A.-Ferguson-97020191
40.036218
-75.513812