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Jennifer Lee Daugherty (November 8, 1979 – February 11, 2010) was an American woman who was torture-murdered in Greensburg, Pennsylvania as an act of revenge in February 2010. Daugherty, who was mentally disabled, was tortured and murdered before being wrapped in Christmas decorations, put inside a garbage can, and dumped in the parking lot of Greensburg-Salem Middle School. Perpetrators Amber Meidinger met Melvin Knight at a homeless shelter in Washington in January 2010. They moved to several locations before settling in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where they met Jennifer Daugherty. Knight met Ricky Smyrnes after meeting previously in jail. Knight Melvin L. Knight (born October 27, 1989) was born to a drug-addicted father who was imprisoned during the early years of his life. He developed lifelong learning and social problems after he fell out of a moving vehicle and hit his head at age 5. Marinucci Angela Lynn Marinucci (born July 14, 1992), according to testimony by her mother and half-sister, suffered a head injury when she was hit by a truck in 2008, at the age of 15. The injury substantially altered her behavior and pushed her into a downward spiral that ended with Daugherty's death, according to the defense. Two mental experts testified that Marinucci, as a child, suffered from depression and that she may have had drug and alcohol addictions as a teenager. Masters Robert Loren Masters, Jr. (born December 22, 1973). Meidinger Amber Christine Meidinger (born January 12, 1990) told jurors, "at some point, she [Daugherty] trusted me because she knew me from the West Place (a center for people with special needs)." Meidinger testified she and her then-boyfriend and co-defendant Melvin Knight met Smyrnes on February 8, 2010, after she and Knight had been staying at a Greensburg-area hotel. Knight and Smyrnes knew each other after meeting in jail, and Meidinger was pregnant with Knight's child when all three met up. Smyrnes offered Meidinger and Knight to stay at his apartment at 428 N. Pennsylvania Avenue in Greensburg. Miller Peggy Darlene Miller (born February 3, 1983). Smyrnes Ricky Ven Edward Smyrnes (born March 6, 1986) was born to a drug-addicted Philadelphia sex worker and a Pittsburgh gang member. He was moved into and out of foster homes as a child and was treated for mental health disorders as early as age 4. He suffered abuse and neglect until he was taken in by the Smyrnes family in North Huntingdon at age 10, according to testimony by forensic psychologist Alice Applegate. His lawyer, Terri Fayes, told the jury that Smyrnes suffered sexual and physical abuse from his father and his uncle. She also explained how he had tried beer, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana by age 6, had been diagnosed with PTSD at age 8, and had undergone 103 therapy sessions by age 10. She added he was diagnosed as having as many as seven different personalities, and 15 total psychiatric issues. In 1997, he burglarized his neighbor's home and stole knives, guitars, coins, bullets, and cash. That same year, he sexually assaulted a woman in her basement. Torture According to a testimony by Meidinger, the group went through her purse and stole money, gift cards, and her cell phone. They poured liquids into her bag, hit her head with filled soda bottles, cut her hair, painted her face with nail polish, and dumped liquid and spices on her head. Meidinger said she and Angela Marinucci took turns violently hitting Daugherty with a metal towel rack and crutches. She also noted that Daugherty was stripped naked, gagged, and raped by Knight. They also forced her to consume feces, urine, and detergent. Meidinger also said Knight took Daugherty to the living room where Marinucci poured a bottle of water over Daugherty's head and Knight and Smyrnes dumped oatmeal and spices on her head. Daugherty said that her eyes were burning, and Smyrnes told her to take a shower because she smelled bad. According to her relatives, Daugherty had the mental abilities of an adolescent, trusted everyone, and thought that the suspects were her "friends." Murder Daugherty's last words were a note to her mother that said, “Mom, I hope you have a good day at work, and I love you very much. Love, Jennifer”. According to his testimony, Masters helped Daugherty retrieve her clothes that Knight and Smyrnes had stripped from her and tossed out a window on the first day of the beatings. Before Daugherty could get her clothes and get out, Knight and Smyrnes returned to the apartment at 428 N. Pennsylvania Ave. As a result, the group voted to kill her. Miller decided to tie her with Christmas lights. They forced her to write a fake suicide note and then stabbed her to death. Smyrnes gave Knight a steak knife and stabbed her in the chest and throat. Her body was stuffed inside a garbage can, and dumped in the parking lot of Greensburg-Salem Middle School. Marinucci told police officials that Knight and Meidinger drugged her before stabbing her. Possible motives Several witnesses claimed Marinucci planned to kill Daugherty several days before the rest began planning. They testified Marinucci overheard her boyfriend, Smyrnes, calling Daugherty and telling her that he loved her and wanted to marry her. During Smyrnes' testimony, he told jurors about the love triangle between Daugherty, Marinucci, and Smyrnes. Trial At the start of the trial on November 3, 2010, the prosecution was seeking the death penalty for Smyrnes, Knight and Meidinger. However, as of August 1, 2019, Knight and Smyrnes are the only convicts on death row. Testimony Neighbors and inmates Several jail inmates testified that Marinucci planned to kill Daugherty several days before her body was discovered. Neighbor Anthony Zappone heard Marinucci say, "I'm going to kill that bitch". He was also sentenced to jail for an unrelated burglary charge. Tina Warrick testified Marinucci told her she was disappointed with the type of Christmas garland Miller purchased to tie Daugherty up and dump her body. Floria Headen heard body slamming and screaming on February 12, 2010. Felisha Hardison, who was a cellmate and friend to Marinucci, testified that she was jumping on her bed, excited to be on the news. Masters and Meidinger reached a plea bargain to testify. Sentencing Knight On April 12, 2012, Knight pleaded guilty to first- and second-degree murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit murder and kidnapping. On August 30, 2012, a jury deliberated for several hours, before voting to put Knight to death. In September 2014, Knight appealed his sentence. His trial was delayed several times, and his sentence was upheld in March 2019. In November 2020, Knight attempted to appeal his sentence via the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The appeal included statements and claims that jurors acted with passion and prejudice and arbitrarily imposed the death penalty. However, it was unanimously rejected by the judges. "Following our thorough review of the record, in .... Discover the Robert Masters popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Robert Masters books.