Thursday, November 19th, 2009
Ansonia man allegedly shot during sour drug deal
By Shelley Grieshop
An Ansonia man who was found dead in Greenville two weeks ago was reportedly robbed and shot in the head during a drug deal in Indiana.
Patrick Cheadle, 53, whose body was found in a van on a street in Greenville on Nov. 3, was shot in the head on Halloween after attempting to purchase marijuana at a home in Winchester, Ind., according to information made public during a court hearing Wednesday.
Cheadle has ties to Mercer County. He was buried more than a week ago in a cemetery in Philothea.
Cheadle's alleged shooter, Terry J. Durbin, 40, of New Carlisle, Ind., appeared in Randolph County, Ind., Circuit Court on Wednesday to face charges of murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. He pleaded not guilty on all counts.
Durbin's alleged accomplice, David W. Mizner, 19, of Winchester, Ind., is set to appear today in court on the same charges, as well as one count of assisting a criminal, according to court documents.
The murder and robbery charges carry a sentence of more than 100 years in prison.
Investigators believe Cheadle, a semi detailer and driver, approached Durbin on Oct. 31 to purchase several pounds of marijuana. During the exchange, Durbin reportedly shot Cheadle and stole his cash.
Mizner reportedly told law enforcement he was afraid of Durbin and was forced to clean up the scene of the shooting on East Greenville Pike in Winchester. He also claims he was forced to transport Cheadle's body to the 400 block of Elm Street in Greenville.
Court documents state that Mizner bought cigarettes and beer and smoked marijuana to calm down on the ride home to Randolph County following the murder. He also claims Durbin gave him $2,000 - a portion of the $13,000 Durbin allegedly stole from Cheadle - to keep his mouth shut, court papers state.
One week ago Durbin was arrested on North Main Street in Winchester, Ind., by Randolph County Sheriff's investigators. Mizner was arrested the next day on South Main Street in Winchester.
Cheadle's mother, Ona Brown Cheadle, survives in New Weston; his father, Robert Cheadle, is deceased. He also is survived by two daughters, three grandchildren and nine siblings. Several family members reportedly were present at the court hearing on Wednesday.
