Man who killed family in 2016 crash in North Versailles resentenced to life in prison

The Homewood man who killed a family of three in a fiery crash on Thanksgiving in 2016 was initially ordered to serve 70 to 140 years in prison.

On Tuesday, following a decision from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Demetrius Coleman, 28, was resentenced to life in prison.

Coleman, who had an outstanding warrant for drugs, led police on a chase that reached speeds of more than 100 mph on Nov. 24, 2016, as he fled a traffic stop in East McKeesport after making an illegal turn.

Coleman T-boned another vehicle at the intersection of Routes 30 and 48 in North Versailles, killing David Bianco, 29; Kaylie Meininger, 21; and their 2-year-old daughter, Annika. The family from Pitcairn was headed to Thanksgiving dinner.

The crash prompted a change in pursuit policies in Allegheny County, requiring officers not to chase unless it’s related to incidents involving serious felonies.

Coleman went to trial in the spring of 2019. A jury found him guilty of three counts of third-degree murder and related charges.

At the original sentencing hearing in June 2019, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office initially asked Judge David R. Cashman to sentence Coleman to a mandatory term of life in prison — citing a Pennsylvania statute that says anyone convicted of third-degree murder “who has previously been convicted at any time of murder or voluntary manslaughter … shall be sentenced to life imprisonment.”

Cashman called that penalty “illogical and ludicrous,” because Coleman’s convictions occurred simultaneously.

The DA’s office appealed the sentence of 70 to 140 years. The state Superior Court ruled in the prosecution’s favor in February 2021, and the state Supreme Court affirmed that decision in November.

The high court found that the statute must be interpreted through the plain definitions of each word.

“So long as a person convicted of third-degree murder has previously been convicted of murder at any point in time, the sentencing enhancement applies to that person,” the court wrote.

Justice David Wecht filed a dissenting opinion in which he said that the statute was intended to target repeat offenders — not someone whose crimes occurred simultaneously.

On Tuesday, Coleman’s defense attorney, Norma Chase, told the court her client’s actions that day were not intentional.

“It’s undisputed he never had the intent to kill or harm anyone,” she said.

No one from either his family or the victim’s family attended the hearing, but Coleman addressed them anyway.

“I would like to apologize to the family, the officers involved, my family — for everyone who was affected by my poor choices,” he said. “I’m sorry we had to go through a long trial. Sometimes, you’ve got to grow up. And sometimes you’ve got to grow up in places you didn’t think you’d be.”

Coleman told Judge Susan Evashavik DiLucente that he is also sorry he’s not there to raise his daughter.

“I just want to say I’m sorry to all the people who I caused pain to,” he said.

The judge called it a horrible tragedy.

“While I believe you are sorry, it doesn’t alleviate the fact consequences have to be paid,” she said.

The judge ordered Coleman to serve 20 to 40 years for the first count of third-degree murder for which he was convicted.

She then imposed two terms of life in prison — as required by the state Supreme Court’s decision.

Evashavik also ordered Coleman to pay court costs.

He immediately objected, saying that the money prevents him from being able to buy personal hygiene items in prison.

“I’m already paying you with my life,” he said. “Now I’m being abused.”

Despite his pleas, Evashavik said she would not waive Coleman’s costs. So far, he has paid $1,729 of $8,113 owed.

“It’s either you or the taxpayer,” she told him.