Tonight’s instalment of Scene of the Crime with Tony Harris probes the tragic case of a beloved 16-year-old varsity cheerleader, Demi Cuccia, who was stabbed to death in her own home by her ex-boyfriend in August 2007.
The episode, titled Deadly Breakup, tries to get to the bottom of why 18-year-old John Mullarkey killed Cuccia, and why their teen romance took such a horrific turn.
The incident took place in Monroeville, a quintessential American suburb located east of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. The murder of Cuccia left the community in tatters.
Mullarkey was charged with first-degree murder following a police investigation. Prosecutors reportedly argued that the suspect went to Cuccia’s home to reconcile with her but brought a hunting knife along with him.
Mullarkey’s defense attorney reportedly replied that it was typical for him to carry one because he was a Boy Scout.
Police say that, after he stabbed Cuccia 16 times, Mullarkey then slit his own throat — but survived.
Mullarkey reportedly claimed that acne medication he was taking caused him to go through mood swings.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelA Pennsylvania jury in June 2009 rejected the so-called “acne drug defense”, convicting him of first-degree murder after deliberating for 45 minutes.
During the trial, jurors reportedly saw disturbing photographs of text messages from Mullarkey’s phone.
In one, he wrote to an unknown recipient: “I stabbed my self at Demi’s I love you.”
That message was reportedly shown in a police photo on the blood-stained screen of Mullarkey’s cell phone.
Scene of the Crime with Tony Harris airs Sundays at 10/9c on Investigation Discovery.