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Conviction Upheld In 2013 Double Homicide

Davide Coggins

The conviction of an Elmira man sentenced to 50 years to life for the 2013 double murder of a town of Carroll couple has been upheld.

The New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division Fourth Department in a filing Friday unanimously rejected the appeal from Davide Coggins, now 42 years old and incarcerated at the Great Meadow Correctional Facility.

Following a lengthy 20-day trial in November 2014, Coggins was found guilty on two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of Gordon and Joyce Skinner. He was sentenced to 25 years to life on each count.

Coggins was also found guilty on burglary, arson and conspiracy charges.

Three others involved in the April 17, 2013, burglary and homicide were also sentenced to lengthy prison terms after pleading guilty to charges of manslaughter.

Davide Coggins, at right, is pictured in April 2013. P-J file photo by Eric Tichy

Joshua McCormick, who was 21 years old at the time of the incident, was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 17 years, totaling 35 years in prison with five years of post-release supervision.

Ricky Knickerbocker, who was 18 years old at the time, was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 16 and 16 1/2 years, totaling 32 1/2 years in prison with five years of post-release supervision.

Steven Todd, who was 18 years old at the time, was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 25 years, totaling 50 years in prison with five years of post-release supervision.

The bodies of Gordon Skinner, 66, and Joyce Skinner, 59, were found after a well-being check when Joyce Skinner failed to show up to work. The basement of couple’s Wheeler Hill Road home in Carroll had also been set ablaze.

Both had been stabbed multiple times.

A neighbor reported spotting an empty vehicle parked outside the residence in the early morning hours and wrote down its license plate.

Coggins, a distant relative of the Skinners whom he believed kept money and valuables inside their home, reportedly spearheaded the burglary and double homicide. After fleeing the scene, all four were taken into custody later that day and eventually brought back to Chautauqua County.

Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt argued the appeal in front of the Rochester court. Following Friday’s ruling, Schmidt noted the work done by Andrew Molitor, first assistant DA, who “reviewed the entire trial record, thoroughly researched the issues” and prepared the opposing brief.

“We are very pleased with the Fourth Department’s decision,” Schmidt told The Post-Journal. “This appeal opened wounds for the family of Joyce and Gordon Skinner who were brutally murdered in their home and it is our sincere hope that, with the Appellate Division now upholding Davide Coggins’ convictions, they can find some closure in knowing that he will remain behind bars along with the other individuals who committed this heinous crime.”

During the appeal, Coggins’ attorney argued that McCormick, Knickerbocker and Todd conspired to commit the crimes and make it appear as if he were the ringleader. His attorney also argued that Coggins was deprived of his right to present a proper defense.

The court disagreed.

“This was a comprehensive appeal with a number of substantive legal issues,” Schmidt said, later adding, “Andrew deserves the credit, together with now-County Court Judge David Foley who conducted a first-rate presentation at trial as District Attorney and secured the convictions. We now move on.”

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