Defendant in Pa. double homicide says he was walking away when he heard gunshots

WILLIAMSPORT-One of the two men charged with murder in the January double homicide in Williamsport admits he was with the accused shooter but denies being involved in the killings.

A video of investigators interviewing Muhammad Davis in the Lycoming County prison was played Friday at his preliminary hearing.

District Judge Christian D. Frey deferred his decision pending the filing of briefs on whether charges that include first- and second-degree murder and kidnaping should be held for court.

The briefs, due Wednesday, are to focus on whether the evidence supports the first-degree murder, robbery and theft counts.

Davis, 49, admitted being with Troy Bennett Bailey Sr. on Jan. 11 the night Alisha Charee Seese, 37, of Williamsport, and Ronald Dailey Jr., 37, of Jersey Shore, were killed.

Davis and Bailey are accused of forcing the two in Dailey’s SUV in the parking lot of Lycoming Engines, driving around and making one stop before arriving in the 1700 block of Terrace Place.

That is where Seese and Dailey were fatally shot shortly after 11 p.m., police say. Their bodies were found about three hours later.

Davis claims he was walking away when he heard the gunshots and was not involved in the killings.

Defense attorney Donald Martino argued the first-degree murder charges should be dismissed because there is no evidence of premeditation by Davis.

First Assistant District Attorney Martin L. Wade countered Davis waiting with Bailey in the parking lot for Seese and Dailey is sufficient at this stage of the case to show premeditation.

Frey said he hopes to issue his opinion by the end of next week.

Bailey was staying with Davis and his wife in the 1200 block of High Street on Jan. 11, the night of the kidnapping and killings.

During the police interview, Davis told investigators Bailey and he drove to the Lycoming Engines parking lot that evening. Seese and Dailey worked security there for a private Florida firm.

Security video from the plant shows Dailey and Seese walk to their vehicles parked next to each other several minutes apart after their shifts ended at 10 p.m.

A blow up of the video, seen for the first time in public, showed the struggle that resulted in both being forced into Dailey’s SUV. The poor quality of the video prevents identification of those involved.

Data from the Intoxalock breathalyzer system Dailey had to use to start the SUV, tracked route of the vehicle until it reached Terrace Place.

Much of the evidence and testimony was the same as that introduced at Bailey’s preliminary hearing.

Dr. Edward Mazuchowski, who conducted the autopsies, testified Seese was shot twice in the back of the head. Dailey was shot once in the face near the nose and also in the back of the head, he said.

He was found in the front driver’s seat of the SUV slumped over the center counsel while she was on the ground outside the front passenger side door.

Davis is charged with first- and second-degree murder, kidnaping, conspiracy to commit kidnaping, robbery, robbery of a motor vehicle, theft, unlawful restraint, recklessly endangering another person and false imprisonment.

Bailey is facing the same charges plus retaliation in child abuse cases, stalking, tampering with evidence, possession of an instrument of crime and two firearms counts.

Bailey and Seese were in an eight-year relationship until December when she reported to police he was abusing children.

The same month she obtained a protection from abuse (PFA) order against him on behalf of herself and children.

That forced him out of the house they shared and caused him to lose his job at Lycoming Engines where he also was employed by the security firm.

Bailey is jailed without bail facing trial in the homicide and abuse cases plus one in which he is accused of using his son’s Social Security number to obtain employment and benefits.

His son, Troy Bailey Jr., is serving a sentence of 25 to 50 years on third-degree murder and two firearms counts from Philadelphia.

Davis also is being held without bail as is Bailey’s girlfriend Sandy Camile Perez, 43, of Williamsport, whose charges were held for court Wednesday. She is accused of assisting Bailey after the shooting.

Randall A. Johnson, 54 of Williamsport, a security supervisor at Lycoming Engines, has waived his preliminary hearing and is scheduled to plead guilty in June.

He is accused of providing Seese’s work schedule to Bailey knowing she had a PFA against him.

Wade has filed the aggravating circumstances needed to seek the death penalty for Bailey if he is found guilty of first-degree murder.