A heinous crime occurred in Oil City, Pennsylvania, where 76-year-old Marcy Suzette Nellis, a beloved great-grandmother, was raped and murdered while walking on a bike trail near her residence.
Convicted sex offender, 59-year-old David Allen Bosely, has been apprehended and charged for the atrocious act.
On March 26, Nellis’ family reported her missing, prompting a massive search effort involving over 100 first responders and the Pennsylvania State Police’s Aviation Unit. Her body was discovered the following day in a wooded area near Clarion University’s Venango Campus.
The criminal complaint highlighted the presence of dense brush and debris near the crime scene, with drag marks indicating a potential struggle. An autopsy conducted by the Erie County medical examiner determined Nellis’ cause of death as asphyxiation from manual strangulation, and confirmed she was sexually assaulted. Additional evidence, including bodily fluids and DNA swabs, was collected during the autopsy.
Bosely became a person of interest due to the rape kit and shoe impressions found at the scene. Police conducted surveillance on his home, which was in close proximity to where Nellis’ body was discovered.
On April 6, Bosely was arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including homicide, rape by forcible compulsion, abuse of a corpse, aggravated indecent assault, and kidnapping.
Despite denying any involvement in Nellis’ death, state records indicate that Bosely was previously convicted of aggravated indecent assault and attempted rape in 2000, and has been registered as a sex offender since that time. Bosely is currently held without bail in Venango County Prison.
The community mourns the loss of Nellis, who was an active member of Good Hope Lutheran Church, enjoyed playing bridge with friends, and cherished spending time with her family and loved ones, including her four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
