Crime

DNA Evidence Links Small PA City Councilman With 1979 Homicide

Bridgewater Councilman Charged With 1979 Murder Thanks to DNA

You may have issues with the current politicians in Washington, but at least, to our knowledge, none of them have ever been charged with murdering a lover 33 years ago.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Bridgewater Councilman Gregory Scott Hopkins, a 65-year-old building contractor, has been charged with homicide of a young woman in 1979, thanks to a break-through in DNA evidence linking the legislator to the murder.

“Councilman Gregory Scott Hopkins, 65, a building contractor, was charged with homicide because DNA evidence linked him to the slaying of Catherine Janet Walsh, 23, of Monaca, District Attorney Anthony J. Berosh said.

Her father found her in her bed, bound and strangled with a bandana, on Sept. 1, 1979.

Defense attorney James Ross said Hopkins is innocent, adding: ‘We intend to fight (these charges) vigorously.’

Police found DNA evidence on Walsh’s nightgown, the white rope that bound her hands behind her back and the bedsheet that covered her body, according to the criminal complaint. New tests of the evidence established a link to Hopkins, prosecutors said.

The complaint indicates that when police interviewed Hopkins seven hours after Walsh was found, he acknowledged that he and Walsh had been lovers but said that it had been a month since they had been intimate in her home.”

Residents of the small community of about 850 were reportedly shocked to hear the charges.

“When I heard (about the arrest) on the news, it shocked me. I couldn’t believe it,” said one of Hopkins’ neighbors, Tim Phillippi to the Tribune. “I always thought he was a real nice guy. I never in a million years would have thought this.”

Rod Weaver, who lives next door to Hopkins, said the councilman “was always very friendly to me. I would see him in the backyard and he would say, ‘Hi! How are you doing?’ We never had any problems.”

Hopkins is a Republican and was appointed to the borough council in 2010.

A federal grant in 2010 gave troopers the money to resubmit evidence from this and other cases for DNA analysis, which wasn’t available in 1979. The Tribune reports that Andrew J. Gall Jr., who was the first Monaca police officer to respond to Caltury’s initial call and is now a county detective, spent hours tracking similar, unsolved murders around the country.

Before the crime lab analysis was finished last week and warrant for Hopkins obtained Sunday, DNA samples were obtained for Hopkins and others — some now living in Massachusetts, California and elsewhere — who police interviewed initially about Walsh’s murder.

“Because of your dedication, professionalism and your relentless pursuit of justice, today has brought a measure of comfort, relief and satisfaction to our family,” ABC News reports Walsh’s brother, Francesco Caltieri, 52, said at a news conference Monday.

Hopkins is being held in the Beaver County Jail without bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Comments (29)

  • PATRIOTMAMA
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 7:53am

    Boy, I’m really shocked that someone who is a good politician would be capable of murdering a young woman and then lying to cover it up for over 30 years! NOT!!!!! Geez people crack me up! The reason they got away with it is because they’re good liars and usually ego maniacs. Great qualities in modern day politics. People capable of this kind of crime don‘t go around wearing I’m a big bad murderer signs on them. They are ALWAYS the ones you least expect. ALWAYS!!! Unfortunate that this kind of evil exists but people really do need to always have their guard up. The father of evil in this world is also the father of all lies and he’s gotten pretty good at it over time. Always beware of those around you. Just sayin!

    Report Post »  
  • scrapadapolis
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 7:40am

    dont worry about teddy he finally gave relief to america by dying and gods revenge was by brain cancer.the kennedys deal with the devil finally came to an end and satin came to collect.

    Report Post » scrapadapolis  
  • Esq.
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 7:36am

    The defendant told police 33 years ago that he and the victim were lovers. This absolutely explains DNA evidence on her nightgown and the bedsheets, at the very least. The fact that he told police it had been one month since they had last been intimate is not invalidated in the least by 33 year old DNA evidence. The damning piece of evidence is the DNA evidence on the rope; however, if tieing eachother up was part of their bedroom repertoire, then the police have merely confirmed that the defendant‘s story about the defendant being the victim’s lover is true. This DNA evidence does not prove that the defendant was present on the night of the “murder.” Moreover, there is not necessarily absolute proof of murder here. Homicide to be sure, but who is to say that in addition to bondage they were not also into asphyxiation. This would be consistent with involuntary manslaughter, not murder. I think the prosecution has an uphill battle here. They have quite literally nothing more than they had 33 years ago, which makes you wonder why they proceeded to go forward with charges now, after so many years, when there is less evidence today that the defendant is responsible for murder than there was 33 years ago. Keep in mind, many of the witnesses may now be dead or forget what happened. This is a weak, weak case… at least based on what was reported in this article.

    Report Post »  
    • DD313
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 8:00am

      If this guy and the victim were into bondage as you suggest, then it seems ironic that he is being held in the Beaver County Jail without bond.

      Report Post » DD313  
    • RazorsEdge
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 9:19am

      Well, don’t know about you, but most sheets and nightgowns are laundered more than once a month.

      Report Post »  
    • Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 12:39pm

      How can you say most? You sound like my wife when we argue and she pulls some assumption out of her behind and lays it out just like that. “Well, MOST married women don’t do that.” Oh yea? How would you know? Have you surveyed most married women?

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  
    • satman40
      Posted on February 2, 2012 at 4:43pm

      Agree

      Report Post »  
  • philby
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 6:47am

    Since the two were lovers, then its likely his DNA was/is all over the place
    Not saying he didnt do it, just that his DNA is on practically everything in the house.
    Cups, glasses, clothes, you name it.
    Just sayin.
    Phil

    Report Post »  
    • GQQSER
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 7:39am

      Agreed, good job to ABC though for airing the opinion of the distraut brother. I mean you don’t think the brother would think the guy is guilty before trial would you? We keep trying these cases in the media and give no thought to innocent until proven guilty, and then we wonder why our liberties are being taken away…..we are idiots.

      Report Post »  
  • Mateytwo Barreett
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 5:34am

    Maybe the defence can get some pointers for “Slick Willy” Clinton.

    Report Post » Mateytwo Barreett  
  • Captain Crunch
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 2:43am

    Like DNA, digital records never go away.
    Things you say on the internet now, will convict you of thought crimes in the future.

    Report Post »  
  • Hobbs57
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 2:39am

    This is my home town, pretty crazy stuff. I don’t know the details of everything just yet. I do know Hopkins and I also know Walsh’s, but not sure if they are related to who I know. What always scared me when they first started this DNA stuff while I was in the Military, I always wondered if they wanted to frame me and put my DNA at a crime scene, how in the world would you beat it ?? I guess if you had an allibye

    Report Post » Hobbs57  
    • Tomr
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 9:20am

      I also know Scott, for over 35 years, and can assure you that he did not do this crime. He is a fun loving guy who has done a lot of mischievous things, some of which I was party to. Having said that, murder is not in his character or chemistry. There is much more to this story which will unfold as his defense investigation continues. Jim Ross is a sharp attorney and will closely filter through the DNA evidence and expose it for what it’s worth.

      Report Post »  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 9:42am

      Not to worry about a frame up much any more.DNA has a break down rate or should I say body tissue does,It can be measured as to how old it was.Plus if you have a alibi in combination you would be cleared.Even someone well trained wouldn’t be able to do much.Blood requires a anticoagulant otherwise it ages rapidly.Anticoagulant is a dead tip off of a frame up.Whether illegally obtained directly or stolen from a lab.

      Report Post »  
    • Tomr
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 9:46am

      Is that you John?

      Report Post »  
  • pennsychica
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 1:53am

    Wow, pretty darn hard to make a case against DNA. I’m sure some bleeding heart agency will take up his cause and say “see, he is a changed man.” Unless of course he’s a Republican. Then he’s off to the clinker…

    Report Post »  
  • tyuchic
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 1:53am

    here’s a mind trip for ya. imagine the people that think they are getting away with crimes now, that will be caught someday with future techniques that they can’t even fathom being possible today.

    Report Post »  
    • Ditto Head
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 2:24am

      Like on Judgement Day when God reviews every sin I/you/everybody ever commited?
      Yeah, that’s always tripped my mind.

      Report Post » Ditto Head  
  • Fus Patrol
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 1:11am

    No rest for the wicked!

    Report Post »  
  • JP4JOY
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 12:56am

    You may have issues with the current politicians in Washington, but at least, to our knowledge, none of them have ever been charged with murdering a lover 33 years ago.

    Ted Kennedy comes to mind.

    Report Post » JP4JOY  

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