Bucks Man Charged In Stepfather's Killing, Had 'Hit List': DA

BRISTOL, PA — The Bucks County District Attorney's Office has announced that Brian Joseph Carey, 41, has been charged with killing his stepfather, Joseph Michael Jakimowicz, 78.

Carey was charged with one count of criminal homicide, possession instrument of crime, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, stalking, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Kevin P. Wagner and held without bail.

Police had been looking for Carey since Tuesday evening after Jakimowicz was found dead in his Winder Village home. The Bucks County Coroner’s Office determined Jakimowicz died of multiple sharp forced injuries; his death was ruled a homicide.

Carey had been made a person of interest in the case when police were led to believe he was driving his stepfather's car, a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer.

Carey was later arrested in Trumbauersville Borough on possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance the following evening. He also had multiple knives and a large sum of cash on his person at the time of the arrest. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Lisa J. Gaier and held on bail.

Blood found on Carey's clothes was tested through the Bensalem Police Department’s local DNA Database. It was found to be a match for Jakimowicz's blood.

Investigators talked to family members of both men, who said they had had ongoing issues with one another. One family member said Carey had a “hit list” of family members, with Jakimowicz on the list; he had been sending threatening texts and voice messages to Jakimowicz.

Surveillance footage from Monday, Feb. 14 showed a person in olive green pants, black boots, and a black hooded sweatshirt getting off a SEPTA bus at Route 413 and Winder Drive and walking to the victim’s home. The person was also carrying a blue backpack with a circular white emblem.

This same person was seen entering Jakimowicz's home and leaving in the Trailblazer. Carey was later identified as the person on the tapes.

"Despite Mr. Jakimowicz's tragic murder, I am relieved that law enforcement was able to apprehend his killer before he could potentially carry out more murders of people on his alleged kill list," District Attorney Matt Weintraub said.

"We certainly would not have caught him as quickly as we did without the public’s help, those who responded with several tips as to his whereabouts when we were looking for him. In addition, I thank the Bensalem Township Police, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Bucks County Detectives for their relentless pursuit of this killer until they apprehended him. Our community is safer because of them."