KENNEDY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Three men have been arrested in connection with the disappearance and death of a man from Westmoreland County. According to criminal complaints, the homicide stemmed from a nearly $440,000 business debt.
County police named Jeremy Fisher, 41, of Coraopolis, William Fortuna, 58, of Conway, and Braden Elliott, 20, of Chicora, as the three men charged in the death of George Dayieb, 57, of Murrysville. The three are facing criminal homicide, criminal conspiracy, and abuse of a corpse charge.
Police said a significant other had reported Dayieb missing and endangered to Murrysville police on Wednesday afternoon. Detectives learned Dayieb had left his home earlier that morning to meet with Fisher to collect a large debt, over $439,000.
The two were business partners in an excavation company based in Robinson Township, and Fisher owed the money for equipment Dayieb had purchased for him, criminal complaints for Elliott and Fortuna said.
Police allege Fisher conspired with the other two men to kill Dayieb. Fisher received a revolver from Fortuna, who police described as an associate and employee of Fisher’s. Elliott’s criminal complaint said that Fisher, Elliott’s uncle, had promised his nephew a diesel truck in exchange for helping to murder Dayieb.
Police said they had security video showing Dayieb entering Fisher’s vehicle near a gas station in Coraopolis Wednesday morning. Fisher drove while Elliott sat in the back seat behind Dayieb. Unbeknownst to Dayieb, Fortuna was following Fisher’s vehicle in another truck.
Elliott attempted to shoot Dayieb in the back of the head while the trucks were traveling on Interstate 376. However, Elliott misfired, after which he messaged Fortuna and Fisher.
Shortly after leaving the gas station, Fisher texted “now” to Elliott, who shot Dayieb once in the head, killing Dayieb. The vehicles pulled over on Glenwood Way in Butler County, police say, where Fisher told Elliott to drive Dayieb’s body to a known camp in Licking Township, Clarion County. Fisher then left with Fortuna and the murder weapon in the other truck.
After Allegheny County police secured a search warrant, state police discovered Dayieb’s body in the trailer on Friday. Police said he had a gunshot wound to his head.
Fortuna was taken into custody on Saturday in Conway, Beaver County. Elliott was arrested Saturday night in Butler County. Fisher was arrested in Midway, Washington County, around 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
Records reveal Fisher has a history of financial problems, including court judgments and a bankruptcy filing from 2017 showing him with $8,000 in assets and $211,000 in debts.
County police Assistant Superintendent Victor Joseph praised detectives in Sunday’s press conference, saying they had “been here around the clock” investigating. A preliminary hearing for Elliott and Fortuna has been scheduled for Jan. 12. A preliminary hearing for Fisher has not yet been announced. Elliott and Fortuna are being held at the Allegheny County Jail. Fisher is at a local hospital after suffering a medical emergency when he was arrested.