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William Smoot, 50, Exeter Township, was convicted of First-Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder for stabbing DelCollo multiple times with a sword on Thursday, Oct. 10, according to the Berks County District Attorney's Office.
Smoot has been held in the Berks County Prison while awaiting sentencing, the district attorney's office said. A sentencing date was not available at the time of publication.
Smoot's accomplice, Joseph Lachina, 31, of Exeter Township, was sentenced to 12 to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to Third-Degree Murder on Thursday, Oct. 3, court documents state.
There victim, 28-year-old Anthony DelCollo was a 2012 Exeter High School graduate who enjoyed snowboarding, trucks, motorcycles and the Indianapolis Colts, according to his obituary from Beans Funeral Homes.
The investigation into DelCollo's murder began after a passerby discovered DelCollo's body in broad daylight at Rotary Park on List Road in Lower Alsace Township on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2021, Daily Voice reported at the time.
DelCollo's pickup truck was later found on Hancock Boulevard in Reading, authorities said. Surveillance cameras captured the pickup truck driving away from the scene 14 minutes after DelCollo's body was discovered.
An autopsy later determined that the cause of death was multiple sharp force injuries described as stabs and chops, and that the manner of death was homicide, according to prior reporting by Daily Voice.
Detectives learned from DelCollo's parents that he "had issues with the use of controlled substances," and that he was the primary user of the pickup truck.
Investigators later discovered that Lachina's son was maintaining the property where the pickup truck was dumped, authorities said. That information led detectives to Lachina.
An anonymous witness told police that Smoot was DelCollo's drug dealer in Exeter Township, according to the district attorney's office. Police also learned that DelCollo owed Smoot about $300.
Smoot told DelCollo to meet him and Lachina on List Road to buy drugs, authorities said. When DelCollo arrived, he opened the rear passenger door of Smoot's white Toyota RAV4 where he was restrained by Lachina, who had been hiding in the back of the SUV.
That's when Smoot pulled out a handleless sword from the trunk of the car and stabbed DelCollo in the back twice, Adams said. Smoot then dragged DelCollo from the trunk and onto the ground, with the sword still inside him.
Once the sword was removed, Smoot drove to the area of Little Rock Road and Crystal Rock Road in Muhlenberg Township, where he cleaned his car, authorities said. Smoot later built a fire behind an Exeter Township home, destroying crucial evidence including the floor mats from the RAV4, DelCollo's clothing, shoes, cellphone, and wallet.
Smoot and Lachina were arrested and jailed on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021 after multiple witness statements were corroborated, authorities said.
Both men also had outstanding probation violations which were issued by the Berks County Adult Probation Office, according to authorities.
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