The four suspects in the April 17 Carroll double homicide: (clockwise from upper left) Ricky Knickerbocker, Davide Coggins, Joshua McCormick and Steven Todd.
ELMIRA – Two of the four Elmira men allegedly connected to the Town of Carroll double homicide that took place April 17 are claiming they were not at the crime scene and are pointing the finger at their 34 year-old co-defendant. The four men are accused of murdering 66 year-old Gordon Skinner and his 59 year-old wife, Joyce Skinner, during a home invasion in their Wheeler Hill Rd. residence the morning of April 17.
According to a report from the Ithaca Journal, 18 year-old defendant Steven Todd and 21 year-old defendant Joshua McCormick – who are also stepbrothers – called their parents in Elmira Thursday night from the Chautauqua County jail following their arrest on two counts of second degree homicide.
The article reports that McCormick’s mothers spoke with her son, who is claiming that 34 year-old Davide Coggins had asked the two – along with 18 year-old Ricky Knickerbocker – to drive him to Chautauqua County. Once in the area, McCormick reportedly told his mother that Coggins dropped all three off at a location in the area, only to return a few hours later. McCormick also said that when he returned, Coggins had blood on him.
Todd’s father also told the Journal his son and McCormick only recently met Coggins at a party in the Elmira area. Coggins is a tattoo artist and gave Todd and McCormick a tattoo at the party.
All four men have been charged with two counts of second degree homicide in connection with the incident. Each was arraigned on the charges last Thursday night and are being held in the Chautauqua County Jail with no bail.
Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley said the four are scheduled for preliminary hearings on April 25.
The four reportedly used a gold or tan 2003 Pontiac Grand Am to get to Chautauqua County from Elmira. Foley and Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace are asking any area residents to come forward if they may have any information about the case, including seeing any or all of the four suspects during the evening of April 16 through the morning of April 17.
Leave a Reply