Man charged in 13-year-old Fayette County cold case homicide

MASONTOWN, Pa. (KDKA) -- Police have cracked a nearly 13-year-old cold case homicide in Fayette County, announcing charges on Wednesday.

Thirty-eight-year-old Frank Timothy Campbell Jr. has been charged with killing 34-year-old Leon Mickens in the borough of Masontown in August 2011, Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele announced.

Mickens was shot and killed near Spring Valley and North Water Street on the evening of Aug. 15, 2011. The district attorney said some items were sent to forensic testing and a person of interest was identified, but no charges were ever filed.

"I feel a lot of emotions now," said Destiny Mickens, Leon Mickens' daughter. "I'm very blessed, my family is very blessed that this day has finally come."

Aubele said the 34-year-old Mickens was shot and killed during a suspected drug deal, and a cigarette butt found at the crime scene had DNA on it. Aubele said results came back in 2019, but no one checked to see if they matched anyone in the national DNA database. Aubele did, and now charges have been filed against Campbell.

"It still hurts to this day, and I'm angry about it," Destiny Mickens said. "I'm angry, I'm happy, I feel a sense of joy."

Destiny Mickens, who was 14 when her father was killed, credits her faith for getting her through and Aubele for listening to her. She said she met with the district attorney to review the case.

"There is not much more of a thank you I can give to him," she said.

Masontown Lieutenant Thomas O'Barto took the lead on the cold case, locating certain witnesses and evidence that resulted in the charges against Campbell, the DA added.

"We appreciate his tireless work and dedication to Leon," Aubele said of O'Barto in a news release.

Campbell is in state prison on unrelated charges.