Delco Man Gets 8 To 30 Years for Stabbing Murder: DA

MEDIA, PA – A Delaware County man will see the inside of a cell for at least 8 years and up to 30 years for the stabbing murder of an Upper Chichester man in 2016.

Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland said Thursday that Nathaniel Powell, 65, of Chester, was sentenced to 8 to 30 years in state prison for the stabbing death of Eric Potts inside a car outside of the victim’s home in Upper Chichester on October 11, 2016.

Powell recently pleaded guilty to third-degree murder before Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge Mary Alice Brennan who sentenced the defendant to 8 to 30 years in state prison.

The case was prosecuted by Delaware County Assistant District Attorney William J. Judge, Jr., and the investigation was led by Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Detective Vincent Ficchi, Upper Chichester Police Department Detective John Montgomery, and Detective Patrick Mullen, formerly of the Chester Police Department, who is now a detective with the Chester Township Police Department.

At about 12:53 a.m. on October 12, 2016, Upper Chichester Police Officer Michael Molineux was dispatched to the 300 block of Broadway Street in Upper Chichester for a report of an unconscious person in a car.

At the scene, Molineux found Potts unconscious in the front seat of a silver Mitsubishi Outlander.

Inside of the vehicle, Molineux found a knife on the floor next to the victim.

Potts was taken to Crozer Chester Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The Delaware County Medical Examiner ruled Potts’ death a homicide from a single stab wound to the chest.

Through the investigation, and as a result of witness testimony and forensic analysis of cell phone records, it was determined that during the evening hours of October 11, 2016, Nathaniel Powell and the victim, Eric Potts, were together in a car when an argument ensued between them. The argument between the two men led to a physical altercation, and that the driver, Powell, stabbed Potts in the chest with a knife, causing his death.

"As the result of a senseless argument, the defendant Nathaniel Powell, recklessly and needlessly took the life of another man. While we are satisfied with the sentence of 8 to 30 year of state incarceration, we know that no sentence will bring back the victim, Eric Potts, and no sentence can undo the damage and suffering caused to his family and loved ones," Copeland said. "I would like to commend Assistant District Attorney William J. Judge, Jr., for his outstanding efforts in bringing this case to justice, and commend the investigative work of Upper Chichester Police Department Detective John Montgomery, Chester Township Police Department Detective Patrick Mullen, and CID Detective Vincent Ficchi, who were the investigators in this case."

Image via Delaware County District Attorney's Office