The most recent episode of Philly Homicide, called “The Center City Devil” aired on Oxygen on November 2, 2024. It was about Patricia McDermott, a 48-year-old radiology tech and loving mother of two young children Angela and George . In a terrible accident on May 17, 2005, she was killed as she walked to work at Pennsylvania Hospital early in the morning. She was shot in the head, leaving her family shocked and the city eager to know what happened. This episode shows the horrible things that happened before she died, which eventually lead police to a Philadelphia serial killer who is still on the loose.
Who Was Patricia McDermott?
Patricia Ann “Trish” McDermott was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 14, 1956. She was Mollie and Joseph W Jr.’s daughter.Patricia McDermott, who was 48 years old, worked as an X-ray tech at Pennsylvania Hospital, which is only a few blocks away from where she was killed. Patricia was loved by her family and coworkers because she was kind and worked hard at her job. Her sudden death shocked everyone in her community, and when she didn’t show up to work that morning, her coworkers were shocked. Concerns were raised right away by this sudden absence.
What happened to X-ray tech Patricia McDermott?
Patricia was on her way to work at Pennsylvania Hospital as usual on the morning of May 17, 2005. About 5 a.m, she got off the No. 33 bus at the post office near Ninth and Market streets, which was only a few blocks from where she worked. She had no idea that this normal morning would quickly turn into something terrible.
Heather was shot in the back of the head as she walked to work. A person walking by later found her dead body on the sidewalk. The police and firefighters said she was dead at the scene. “She had already been pronounced dead by rescue who were still on the scene” said Lt. Joe Maum, a former lieutenant with the Philadelphia Police Department.
The Impact of the Murder
Philadelphia was shocked when Patricia was killed. At first, detectives didn’t understand why the violent act seemed to happen for no reason. Was there a failed theft? An accident? A murder? As soon as the police started their investigation, they found out that this wasn’t the only case like this.
Patricia McDermott was remembered by her coworkers as a nice person who worked hard. An old detective who worked on the case, Chuck Boyle, said, “She was just a good person… good at her job.” Even though they had good memories, no one could give the police any leads. George Amarhanov, her husband, and their two young children also didn’t know who would want to hurt Patricia.
Who Killed Patricia McDermott?
When detectives learned that Amarhanov had a criminal history that included burglary and drug charges, the case took a new turn. Even though he hadn’t been convicted of any violent crimes before, Patricia’s life insurance make people suspicious. However, he had a strong alibi that was backed up by witnesses: he was at home when the murder happened.
When investigators looked at security footage from the post office, things changed. A man was seen closely following Patricia on the grainy video just seconds before she was shot. The video was very important because it showed the attacker sneak up on Patricia without warning and shoot her, killing her. Maum said, “At that point, I had been a police officer for about 32 years.” “I had never seen anyone actually be put to death.” That’s what it was.
The Discovery of a Serial Killer
As the police looked into the case more, they found links to a number of other murders in Philadelphia. They turned their attention to Juan Covington, a former SEPTA worker who had anger issues and a troubled history with women. When police found out that Covington and Patricia had been seen on the same bus that morning, they started to build a case against him.
It was found that Covington had an illegal gun with a changed serial number on him when he was caught. When his house was searched, an alarming number of weapons linked to other violent crimes in the city were found. Notably, the guns were the same ones that were used to kill Reverend Thomas Lee Devlin and Odies Bosket, among others.
The confession and trial of Jaun Covington
On the first day, Covington said he shot Patricia in self-defense because she was pointing an X-ray machine at him. During the trial, though, his mental health was called into question. A psychiatrist for the court said he was severely mentally ill and schizophrenic. Even so, the court let his confession stand as proof.
As the case went on, Covington’s strange reasons became clear. He thought that many of his victims, including Patricia, were “devils” who needed to be killed. He was eventually given three life sentences without the chance of parole for the murders he did.
Patricia McDermott’s life was tragically cut short, but her family and friends will always remember her. Patricia McDermott died in a terrible accident, and her family and friends came together to pay their last respects. Patricia was laid to rest at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County. The community’s sadness was clear at her funeral, where many people were sad not only for Patricia but also for her death, which made no sense. Angela Amarhanov, her daughter, said, “I feel like my soul was shattered in two,” describing how deeply the death affected her family.
The tragic story of Patricia McDermott is a stark reminder of how fragile life is and how dangerous everyday things can be. The disturbing details of her death, which were linked to the story of a serial killer, have left a lasting impression on Philadelphia. They have shown how important it is to be vigilant and fair in a world that sometimes seems to lack both.
For more detailed recaps and True Crimes, visit otavo.tv.
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