JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) – A Punxsutawney man is facing life in prison after pleading guilty to fatally shooting his pregnant girlfriend in November 2023.
According to court documents, 23-year-old Dakota Greeley, of Punxsutawney, pleaded guilty on July 1 to the following charges:
- Murder, Homicide 1
- First-degree murder of an unborn child, Homicide 1
He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on July 16 before President Judge John H. Foradora.
The following charges against Greeley were dropped by the prosecution:
- Criminal homicide, Homicide 1
- Criminal homicide of an unborn child, Homicide 1
- Third-degree murder of an unborn child, Felony 1
- Terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another, Misdemeanor 1 (two counts)
- Abuse of a corpse, Misdemeanor 2
Details of the case:
Greeley was charged following the shooting of his 25-year-old girlfriend Trisha Renee Cole on the morning of November 9, 2023, in Clover Township, Jefferson County.
According to court documents released on December 11, 2023, a family member of Greeley contacted the authorities at 9:55 a.m., alleging that Greeley had shot Cole and was intending to provoke a lethal response from the police, a scenario often referred to as “suicide by cop.”
A complaint filed in district court by PSP Corporal Meko indicates Greeley used a 30/30 long rifle in the shooting.
Upon reaching the scene, officers were met by Greeley, who discharged two rounds from his weapon, triggering return fire from the police. Greeley then fled in a Ford pickup truck, the complaint details.
Greeley, as per the troopers’ report, traveled a short distance before crashing the truck into a wooded area on Dickey Road, and then fled on foot.
By approximately 11:35 a.m., authorities had Greeley in custody and transported him to Penn Highlands. Prior to transport, he reportedly threatened the lives of the EMS attempting to treat him.
During an interview with police, Greeley allegedly confessed to shooting Cole. When questioned about the weapon’s whereabouts, Greeley reportedly chuckled before responding, “It was in my hand.”
The gun believed to be used in the shooting was later discovered in Greeley’s crashed Ford pickup truck.
At approximately 1:35 p.m., investigators returned to the scene at 180 Coyote Drive where Cole’s body was discovered. She reportedly suffered a gunshot wound to the head and had tire tracks on her body, indicating she had been run over by a vehicle.
An autopsy revealed Cole was pregnant at the time of death, with a “viable fetus” that was actively growing at the time of death, according to the complaint. This was later confirmed when investigators obtained Cole’s medical records.
On November 15, 2023, investigators interviewed a known male, who claimed Greeley called him while he was having an argument with an unknown person regarding Cole’s pregnancy, the complaint indicates. Greeley allegedly made statements that his life was ruined and that he wanted to terminate the pregnancy, the complaint states.
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