Disturbing details revealed during testimony about man accused of beating mother to death

SOUTH FAYETTE, Pa. — Family members left an Allegheny County courtroom Friday in tears, overcome with emotion from the disturbing testimony they had just heard.

New details from police came out about the gruesome murder of 67-year-old Margaret Sumney, who was allegedly beaten to death in her home by her son, David Sumney, in Sept. 2019.

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Investigators said officers found the victim dumped in a bathtub by Sumney in the home on Olde Orchard Drive in South Fayette.

And the testimony Friday revealed graphic details of the murder scene.

According to detectives, human blood was found on the living room sofa, which had been spray painted over to try to hide it.

Detectives said they found “empty containers of cleaning products in the bathroom” – products the victim’s son was caught on camera buying from a local store. But that was not the worst of it.

During the testimony, the victim’s family heard graphic details of Sumney’s alleged abuse of his mother before and after her death.

According to Allegheny County police, sometime after the brutal beating, Sumney “took a selfie with blood on his face.” They also said he took pictures of his mother in “various stages of distress both before and after her death.”

Sumney’s attorney argued there was evidence that the victim died from previously existing health problems and not from blunt force trauma. However, the judge held all charges against Sumney for trial.

He was charged shortly after her death with criminal homicide, robbery, theft and abuse of a corpse.

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