First defendant in Youngwood murder cases pleads guilty, gets 15 to 30 years in prison

Matthew Genard was weeks away from a fresh start in Florida when he was brutally stabbed to death during a drug-related robbery more than two years ago in Youngwood.

Genard’s eldest sister told a Westmoreland County judge on Monday that the family’s youngest sibling was ready to turn his life around. Plans were in place to drive him south after Thanksgiving for a new life.

“We were all robbed of the opportunity to see Matt flourish in a different environment,” Cathy Genard Riser said before a judge sentenced one of the four people charged with Genard’s murder.

Jason Sullenberger, 42, of Youngwood, pleaded guilty Monday to third-degree murder for his role Genard’s death. He was sentenced to serve 15 to 30 years in prison, and additional 10 years on probation. Sullenberger also pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy and a robbery charge.

Police said that Sullenberger, along with two other men, barged in to Genard’s home on Nov. 9, 2017, as part of a robbery plot. Genard was placed in a choke hold while Sullenberger and another man stabbed him. Genard was found dead the next day.

Genard was stabbed up to 20 times in the neck and back. His killers took his clothes along two bricks of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and about $1,100 in cash. Genard’s clothes were burned and the drugs and money were split the next day with a fourth member of the group, according to police.

Genard, 50, was the youngest of eight children and struggled with drugs, according to his siblings and other family members who testified Monday.

“Matt was a kind-hearted person. There is no way he deserved to die like that. He never thought anybody would steal from him,” testified sister Mary Beth Dugan.

Scott Genard of Texas said his brother’s death will have a lasting impact on the large family.

“A lot of hearts have been broken,” he testified.

Sullenberger expressed no remorse, saying only that he agreed to plead to a lesser charge because it was in his best interest to do so.

Sullenberger’s trial was set to start March 16, where he faced a general charge of criminal homicide that included a potential guilty verdict of first-degree murder. That crime carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“Hearing all the comments of the family members speaks volumes about the consequences of your action,” Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani told Sullenberger. “It speaks volumes about the lengths addicts will go to get their drugs.”

Sullenberger’s guilty plea did not include any requirement that he testify against his co-defendants.

Cases are still pending against Christopher David, 42, of Youngwood, the man police said held Genard during the murder; Michael Covington Jr., 22, of Youngwood, who according to police helped stab Genard; and Linda Kay Quidetto, 42, of Sharon, who investigators said aided in the planning of the robbery and murder and received a split of the drugs and money.

All three are scheduled to appear before Feliciani next month for a hearing to determine the status of their cases.