Philadelphia man to stand trial in stabbing death of Adams Township man, authorities say
VINCO, Pa. – A Philadelphia man was ordered Friday to stand trial in Cambria County court in the November stabbing death of an Adams Township man whose body was found along state Route 56 in Lower Yoder Township was ordered Friday to stand trial in Cambria County court, authorities said.
Dashane White-Ferguson, 25, was held for trial after a preliminary hearing before District Judge Mary Ann Zanghi, of Vinco.
White-Ferguson is charged with killing Barry Senior Jr., 54, following a dispute about money.
White-Ferguson, wearing a red jail suit, sat between public defenders David Raho and Christian Kerstetter.
Cambria County Assistant District Attorneys Joseph Green and Jessica Aurandt called six prosecution witnesses to testify.
According to testimony and a complaint affidavit, White- Ferguson allegedly stabbed Senior, dumped his body along Haws Pike and set it on fire.
The body was found Nov. 6 after a passing motorist spotted the fire and called 911. Senior died from blood loss due to multiple stab wounds.
White-Ferguson allegedly stole the victim's 2022 BMW M3 and later abandoned it along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Lancaster County.
White-Ferguson was allegedly on his way to a chop shop when the car stopped working.
Troopers said they found blood on the back seat.
White-Ferguson was found near the vehicle and picked up on a parole violation out of Philadelphia.
West Hills Regional police and Cambria County detectives later charged White- Ferguson with homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
The final prosecution witness to testify was a 31-year-old inmate in federal custody for drug dealing. The inmate was housed along with White- Ferguson in Cambria County Prison in December.
The inmate, who is currently in the custody of U.S. Marshals and no longer housed in Cambria County, testified that White-Ferguson often confided in him.
White-Ferguson allegedly told the inmate that he had stabbed Senior in the back seat of the BMW when they argued over drugs and money.
'(White-Ferguson) said (Senior) would not give him money, so he started stabbing him in the back seat,' according to the inmate.
White-Ferguson allegedly said he 'set him on fire in a remote area,' the inmate testified.
The inmate acknowledged a purpose for this testimony.
He is facing five to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced on federal drug charges in June.
The inmate said he was hoping his cooperation with prosecutors would earn him a reduced federal sentence after appeal.
Raho asked the judge to throw out the charges against White-Ferguson, saying there is no physical evidence. He called the inmate's testimony 'questionable.'
After the proceeding, Raho clarified his position.
'He could ask for a substantially reduced sentence in exchange for his testimony,' Raho said.
After he is sentenced on the federal charges, the inmate can file a separate motion, Raho said.
'He has obvious motives to testify in this case,' Raho said.
White-Ferguson is being held without bond in Cambria County Prison.
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