DA: Man admits to beating friend to death with baseball bat in Bucks County 15 years ago
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - Prosecutors have charged a man who they say beat his friend to death with a baseball bat in a Bucks County cold case.
District Attorney Matthew Weintraub announced charges in the 2004 murder at a press conference on Tuesday.
Adam Brundage, of Quakertown, was a 26-year-old father of two when he went missing 15 years ago.
![Prosecutors have charged Damon Smoot with the 2004 murder of Adam Brundage in Bucks County.](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox29.com/www.fox29.com/content/uploads/2020/01/932/524/damon_smoot_adam_brundage.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Prosecutors have charged Damon Smoot with the 2004 murder of Adam Brundage in Bucks County.
Damon Smoot, 36, admitted to striking Brundage in the back of the head with a baseball bat during an argument on Oct. 4, 2004, prosecutors said. He then allegedly covered Brundage's mouth and nose to ensure until he died.
Brundage's body was subsequently buried at H&K quarries in Hilltown, where Smoot worked. Authorities recovered the body on Thursday, Jan. 16.
"He never had a funeral. He never had a grave marker," Weintraub said. "Just a tomb and a rock. For 15 years."
Weintraub said that Brundage's body will be returned to his family for a proper burial.
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Smoot continued to live in Brundage’s home following his murder and provided inconsistent accounts about the victim's whereabouts, according to a criminal complaint.
The pair were roommates at Brundage’s Glen Meadow Court home for only a few weeks before his murder.
In April 2019, Quakertown Borough Police Department and Bucks County detectives reopened the investigation into Brundage's death.
Prosecutors expect Smoot to plead guilty to third-degree murder. Under his plea, Smoot would serve 20-40 years in prison. At age 62, he would be eligible for parole.
Smoot is currently being held on $1 million cash bail.
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