Grief counselors on hand after vigil for Bucks County murder victims
LANGHORNE, Pa. (WPVI) -- The digital billboard outside Neshaminy High School usually streams information about upcoming school events and announcements.
On Monday, one day after a vigil honoring the victims of the Bucks County killings, the billboard remained frozen on the image of a yellow ribbon.
It greeted everyone who arrived to meet with grief counselors who were available until 2 p.m.
One of the young men murdered, Dean Finocchiaro, graduated from Neshaminy last year.
Officials from the school district say events like these serve as a stark reminder that schools are designed to offer much more than a good education.
"We're so worried about test scores and so forth, but first we have to get to the emotional wellbeing of our children. We need to make sure that they're safe, that they're nurtured, and they can go to a safe place, and that's why we want to open up our schools to get the kids the support they may need," Anthony Devlin of the Neshaminy School District said.
Meanwhile, what was referred to as a "Night of Healing" was held Sunday night at the Garden of Reflection in Lower Makefield.
The vigil honored the memory of 22-year-old Mark Sturgis, 21-year-old Tom Meo, 19-year-old Dean Finocchiaro and 19-year-old Jimi Patrick.
Prayers and song filled the evening's event at the Garden of Reflection in Lower Makefield Township.
VIDEO: Vigil Sunday night for Bucks County victims
"I can't speak for all the families. I can imagine all of them are turning to our Lord to be a light to us," said Fr. Jason Buck of St. Andrew Catholic Church of Newtown, Pa.
On Monday, the funeral arrangements were announced for three of the victims.
Family and friends of Dean Finocciaro are invited to call on Saturday from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the James J. Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc., 2200 Trenton Road, Levittown, where his funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Interment will be held privately.
Family and friends of Mark Sturgis are invited to attend his Memorial Gathering on Thursday evening July 20, 2017 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Fluehr Funeral Home 864 Bristol Pk. (Rt. 13 ) Bensalem, Pa. 19020.
Relatives and friends of Tom Meo are invited to gather Wednesday evening, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday morning, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Burns Funeral Home, 9708 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114. Funeral Mass 10 a.m. at St. Anselm Church. Interment Resurrection Cemetery.
Loyola University Maryland is planning a Mass for all four victims on Wednesday; a separate Mass for Jimi Patrick will take place in the fall when students return to campus.
After searching the Solebury Township farm for several days last week, authorities made the gruesome discovery: the four men had been shot and killed, their bodies buried.
Police say 20-year-old Cosmo DiNardo of Bensalem, Pa. confessed to the grisly crimes. DiNardo told authorities he set the men up, when they came to his farm to buy marijuana.
Authorities have also charged DiNardo's cousin, Sean Kratz of Northeast Philadelphia, in connection with three of the murders.
VIDEO: Friends remember the Bucks County murder victims
This weekend, the victims were remembered by those who knew them best.
Not all of the victims knew each other, but Sunday night, their friends and family came together.
Kaitlyn Masone, a friend of Jimi Patrick said, "It is overwhelming, but it is meaningful to see so many people cared about those boys."
"It's comforting to know that everybody decided to come out to support not just Meo, but all four of the kids," said Shane Hughes, a friend of Tom Meo. "It's a tragedy, but it's a process. We're all healing together. We're strong in numbers."
The grandparents of Jimi Patrick thanked the families of the other three victims, saying in a statement they all made a decision together to forgo the death penalty for DiNardo so authorities could find Patrick's body.
Patrick had been buried in a different location from the other three victims.
Video: 2 cousins facing charges over 4 Bucks County killings
Video: TIMELINE: Murder of 4 men in Bucks County, Pa.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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