One year after the homicide of North Huntingdon chiropractor David S. Bailey, investigators have not made an arrest, despite a billboard alert near the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Irwin interchange and acquaintances offering a reward for information leading to a conviction.
Bailey, 54, was found dead inside his Parkway Drive office on Nov. 29, 2019. An employee discovered his body about 30 minutes before the office was scheduled to open.
Coroner Ken Bacha ruled the death a homicide but has kept details of Bailey’s cause of death under wraps.
“It’s at the request of the police due to their ongoing investigation,” Bacha said.
Township police Chief Robert Rizzo and county Detective Randy Gardner still are not disclosing details of Bailey’s death. Both said the absence of an arrest is not because of a lack of effort. Multiple investigators are still seeking a specific clue or a tip to provide evidence needed to make an arrest.
“We’re looking for closure on this as much as anyone. We have never stopped working on it, and it is still a very active, ongoing investigation,” Rizzo said.
Township and county detectives frequently meet to review the case.
“We’re still pursuing steps that one day we believe will enable us to make an arrest,” Gardner said.
Lengthy investigations are nothing new for Gardner, a former state police trooper who was a lead investigator in the 17-month probe into the April 2006 murder of Blairsville dentist Dr. John Yelenic.
In September 2007, state police and agents from the state attorney general’s office arrested Trooper Kevin Foley, who was living with Yelenic’s estranged wife. Foley was convicted of the killing in 2009 by an Indiana County jury and is serving a life sentence.
In June, attorney Dan Beisler said the Bailey family is eager for answers in the killing. He announced that 12 families had pledged money for a reward, the amount of which was not disclosed. A digital billboard on Route 30 in Irwin urged anyone with information to call township police.
Neither Beisler nor Bailey’s wife, Cheryl, could be reached for comment. In addition to his wife, the 1983 Norwin Senior High School graduate is survived by three sons, according to Bailey’s obituary.
Gardner and Rizzo said no tips or phone calls came as a result of the billboard or reward announcement. But they still are seeking potential clues and information.
“If someone thinks they know something, or even heard something, we’re definitely interested. We never turn down information,” Gardner said.
Following the announcement of Bailey’s death, police said they were hopeful a motorist passing by the office may have seen something. No such calls have come.
“We’re definitely looking for anything and everything. No matter how small a person thinks the information is, we’re interested in it,” Rizzo said.
Anyone with information about Bailey’s death is asked to call township police at 724-863-8800.
