Irene Challingsworth

Lawrence E. Donachy, 33, of St. Marys was served with an arrest warrant on Thursday, July 17, 2008, in the murder of St. Marys resident Irene Challingsworth.

Lawrence E. Donachy, 33, of St. Marys was served with an arrest warrant on Thurs., July 17, 2008 in the murder of St. Marys resident Irene Challingsworth. A preliminary hearing in the case has been scheduled for July 30 at 1 p.m. before Magisterial District Justice Donald A. Wilhelm of St. Marys.

Elk County District Attorney Bradley Kraus announced the arrest of Donachy during a press conference held Monday afternoon in the Elk County Courthouse Annex building in Ridgway, Sgt. John Lovett of the St. Marys City Police Department and Trooper Dave Ray of the Pennsylvania State Police jointly filed a criminal complaint against Donachy, charging him with an open count of homicide in Challingsworth’s death, which occurred inside her residence between 9:15 p.m. on April 5, 1999 and 8:24 a.m. on April 6, 1999.

The complaint also charges Donachy with one count each of rape, burglary, aggravated assault, criminal attempt at arson and unlawful restraint.

A warrant was then issued for Donachy’s arrest by Magisterial District Justice  Wilhelm. According to Kraus no other arrest warrants have been filed at this time in the case.

Law enforcement personnel in attendance at the press conference included Pennsylvania State Police Troop C Capt. Kimberly Leemhuis, Corp. Robert Cogley of PSP-Ridgway, Corp. Scott Neil of the Criminal Investigative Assessment Unit-Ridgway and Trooper Dave Ray of the Criminal Investigative Assessment Unit-Punxsy, as well as St. Marys Chief of Police Todd Caltagarone andSgt. John Lovett.

“This arrest is a result of the tireless efforts of many members of the law enforcement communities,” Kraus said. “I want to personally express my appreciation to St. Marys Police Chief Todd Caltagarone, Sgt. Lovett and all other officers of the St. Marys Police Department. Equally I am appreciative to Sgt. Scott Neil, Corp. Cogley, and all the troopers, corporals, sergeants, captains and lieutenants of Troop C.”

Donachy was preliminarily arraigned on the charges Monday afternoon, via videoconferencing, before Magisterial District Justice Wilhelm.

Donachy is currently incarcerated on previous criminal charges, though Kraus refused to divulge the origins of charges or the location where he is currently imprisoned, due to security reasons.

The charge of homicide is a non-bailable offense, therefore Donachy was remanded to jail without bail.

Kraus noted the joint filing of the criminal complaint was by both the St. Marys Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police.

“I can assure you that their efforts were of one unified accord and want to thank them for their efforts,” Kraus said.

Due to professional rules of conduct as a district attorney, Kraus was unable to disclose any information pertaining to evidence or any results of any scientific tests.

When questioned about the nine-year time period in making an arrest in the case, Kraus stated “Investigations in term of any homicide require a lot of effort. I never look at a case in how long it takes, but of the results.”

In addition he added that Donachy is presumed innocent unless and until he is proved guilty in the crimes charged beyond a reasonable doubt.