Davide Coggins
MAYVILLE – The fourth and final person connected to the April 2013 double homicide that took place in the Town of Carroll has received the maximum sentence of 50 years to life in prison.
On Monday, 35 year-old Davide Coggins of Elmira was sentenced in Chautauqua County Court on two counts of felony murder, each of which carried a 25-year to life sentence. The two sentences will run consecutively and are determinant, meaning Coggins will serve a minimum of 50 year before even being eligible for release.
In addition to the two sentences for murder, Coggins was also given the maximum sentence for first degree arson, second degree arson, two counts of first-degree burglary, second degree burglary and fourth degree conspiracy. All those sentences will run concurrently with the murder sentence.
In November, Coggins was found guilty by Chautauqua County jury for his role in the deaths of Gordon and Joyce Skinner. During the trial, District Attorney David Foley proved that Coggins knew the Skinners and led the three others to their home on Wheeler Hill Rd. on April 16, 2013 to burglarize the residence. During the home invasion, the four men were accused of also beating the couple and stabbing them to death, with Gordon Skinner’s body being set on fire.
The four were captured shortly after the crime was committed. Coggins’ three cohorts – Joshua McCormick, Ricky Knickerbocker, and Steven Todd – each made plea deals with the DA’s office in exchange for testifying against Coggins. However, only McCormick and Knickerbocker took the stand while Todd reneged, fearing that he would encounter retribution if he took the stand.
The three others were sentenced in January. McCormick, who was 21 at the time the crime was committed, will serve 35 years in prison and Knickerbocker, who was 18, will serve 32.5 years. Because he agreed to testify but then refused, Todd, who was also 18 when the crime was committed, received a sentence of 50 years.
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