Jury Finds Trooper Guilty In Dentist's Slashing Death

Jurors deliberated six hours before finding Kevin Foley, a Pennsylvania State Police trooper, guilty of first-degree murder in the April 2006 slaying of Dr. John Yelenic at his Blairsville home.

Family and friends came out of the Indiana County courthouse overcome with emotion. There was a small outburst from them as the verdict was read, but Foley had no reaction.

"He was the most wonderful person in the world. He died the most horrible death. And tonight, this is his night. We love you John, and we miss you, and we'll never forget. The system worked," said Yelenic's cousin, Mary Ann Clark.

Foley's sentencing is set for June 1.

Foley, 43, took the stand Wednesday, saying he had no role in the slashing death of the Indiana County dentist.

Defense attorney Richard Galloway insisted his client was not responsible for the death of Yelenic.

"Very disappointed in the verdict," Galloway said. "We still believe in Kevin's innocence, and we'll press forward."

During testimony, Galloway asked Foley a number of questions while he was on the stand Wednesday morning.

Galloway: "Did you have anything to do with the murder of John Yelenic?"

Foley: "No, I did not."

Galloway: "Did you kill John Yelenic?"

Foley: "No, I did not."

Galloway: "What shift did you work on April 12, 2006?"

Foley: "I was scheduled to work 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. I asked to be switched to 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. so I could watch 'American Idol.'"

However, prosecutors argued that bloody sneaker prints left at the crime scene were similar in pattern to ASICS Gel Creed sneakers owned by Foley. They also said Foley's DNA was found under Yelenic's fingernail.

Foley was living with Yelenic's estranged wife when the dentist was murdered.

The couple's divorce was so acrimonious, Yelenic's defense attorney sought a posthumous divorce decree.

Previous Stories: March 17, 2009: Defendant In Slain Dentist Case To Take Stand March 10, 2009: Wecht: Slain Dentist Stabbed Multiple Times In Throat February 13, 2009: Attorney Disputes DNA Evidence In Dentist's Slaying April 13, 2008: Murdered Dentist Remembered Two Years After Killing November 7, 2007: Trooper Faces Charges In Local Dentist's Death September 27, 2007: State Trooper Arrested In Connection With Local Dentist's Murder