Anthony James Dick

Case overview

Anthony James Dick was sentenced to death on August 22, 2007 after the shooting deaths of his two sons and the attempted killing of his wife.

The offence

Anthony Dick shot and killed his two children while they were sleeping. He shot his wife Betty Dick twice before turning the gun on himself; both Betty Dick and Anthony Dick survived.

The victims were:

• Creed Vincent, 4
• James Dick, 18 months

Police treated the shootings as homicides. Investigators believed that everyone involved was inside the room when they arrived and that they were not looking for any other suspects at that time.

Anthony Dick attempted suicide after the shootings.

Background

Since 1993, several women sought protection from Anthony Dick.

Court papers showed Anthony Dick had an abusive past. Three women filed five protection from abuse orders against him since 1993, including two by his current wife, Betty.

Court papers also showed that Betty withdrew her first protection from abuse order against Dick, but that he continued to beat her and threatened to kill her several times. Betty left the Bloomsburg home with the children and eventually ended up at the Stone Castle Motel. Neighbors said Betty lived at the motel for about a month before the shootings.

Kathlene Russell, Executive Director of Women’s Center Incorporated of Columbia and Montour Counties, described the impact of domestic violence in the county and said this incident could deter people in abusive relationships from getting protection from abuse orders. She said protection orders provided “a legal paper trail of abuse that enables the legal system to respond to future events”.

Investigation

Police were called to the Stone Castle Motel near Bloomsburg just before 9 a.m. Tuesday. Inside, police found two young children dead and their parents with gunshot wounds.

Police blamed a domestic dispute for the violence. By Tuesday night, investigators blamed the husband.

Police spent the day gathering evidence, and emergency workers helped troopers take away the victims’ bodies.

A neighbor who heard the gunshots called 911 after a woman covered in blood came to her door. The neighbor said the woman’s estranged husband shot her, her children, and then turned the gun on himself.

Police said the shootings happened around 4:30 a.m. at the motel just off Route 11 between Bloomsburg and Danville.

Police said Betty Dick had a protection from abuse order against her husband, while also being tight-lipped about what happened at the motel and telling reporters to stop asking questions about the shooting. Evidence was removed from a motel room in Columbia County where the deadly shooting occurred.

Arrest / court appearances

Anthony Dick made his first appearance in court on February 22, 2006 in Columbia County.

Anthony Dick gave up his right to a preliminary hearing. He remained silent as he walked into the district magistrate’s office.

Court papers showed Anthony Dick admitted to shooting his wife Betty and murdering Creed Vincent, 4, and James Dick, 18 months, while they were sleeping. The papers also showed Dick tried to kill himself but both he and Betty survived.

Police said Dick told them plenty after the shootings, and investigators said Dick told them he hoped she died and that he wasn’t sorry for what he did.

Anthony Dick was back behind bars facing two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. A date had not yet been set for his next court appearance.

Trial / sentencing

Anthony Dick asked Wednesday to be sentenced to death. A judge obliged, sentencing him on August 22, 2007.

Family statements and reactions

Betty Dick said: “He’s cold hearted. He doesn't have any feelings. I don't know. He's a monster”

She also said: “He's like a robot. I don't. There's no emotion, there was nothing. I don't understand it. He must have hated us all so bad. Anything but to let us have those kids”

James’ godmother, Pam Reynolds, said: “He didn't look at us. He didn't show any emotion. I walked right by him and this is the hardest thing I've had to do in my life”

Marie Talmadge, the boys’ grandmother, said:

Marie Talmadge added:

Marie Talmadge said: “He didn't look at us. He didn't show any emotion.

Marie Talmadge also said: “They were little kids. They played and laughed and wrote on my walls. But that's all we have left because he had to be so selfish and think of himself”

Betty Dick’s letter read by Betty Dick included: “You took their smiles, their tears, their laughter, their chance to go to school, to marry, to have their own children,”

In her letter Betty Dick questioned if he even cared.

A family and friends held hands in a prayer circle outside the courthouse with pictures of Creed and James pinned to their shirts and plastered on posters.

A friend of Betty Dick said: “This, it's too hard, it's just too hard”

Attorney and legal comments

Dick’s attorney Paige Rossini said: “I haven't discussed that with him. Certainly everyone can make their own opinion on what they see and don't see. I've advised him not to make anymore statements,”

Deputy Attorney General Frank Fina said: “I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the evidence at this point. I mean, it's a horrible crime,”

When asked about commenting outside the judge’s office, Betty Dick said: “Just no comment right now, okay?”

Timeline

• January 24, 2006 — Two children were found dead at the Stone Castle Motel near Bloomsburg, and police treated the shootings as homicides; Betty Dick was recovering from her wounds.
• January 25, 2006 — Information emerged about protection from abuse orders filed against Anthony Dick since 1993, and Betty Dick’s abusive history and relocation to the Stone Castle Motel were discussed.
• February 23, 2006 — Anthony Dick made his first appearance in court in Columbia County and gave up his right to a preliminary hearing; he faced two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
• August 22, 2007 — Anthony Dick was sentenced to death.

Other details

Kathlene Russell said: “In Columbia County domestic violence is the leading cause of murder, by like three to one”

Russell explained: “It provides a legal paper trail of abuse that enables the legal system to respond to future events,”

Russell said: “I would say that is a word of encouragement. There were five against a very bad man,”

Russell also said: “We can all agree this was a very bad man and he had five (PFAs). It worked four times. It didn't work once.”

Police said it could be about a week before Anthony Dick’s condition improved enough for him to be behind bars.

Betty Dick was still in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center near Danville after the shootings. Anthony Dick was at Geisinger in serious condition.

The case moved from preliminary hearing to county court after Dick gave up the preliminary hearing right.

Any death sentence in Pennsylvania is automatically reviewed by the state supreme court.

Anthony Dick was also mentioned in an Eastern District opinion labeled J-182-2008: “Man Gets Death for Killing Sons.”