Cosmo DiNardo Confesses To 4 Killings In Chilling Audiotapes

It was a case that gripped Bucks County, and the nation. Four men, all missing within days of each other, later found dead on the same Solebury Township farm. After an extensive search, the bodies of the young men were located buried on a property owned by the family of their admitted killer, 21-year-old Cosmo DiNardo.

New confession audiotapes obtained by NBC10 reveal chilling details on what transpired over the course of those three violent days in July in a quiet pocket of Bucks County more commonly known for its beauty and serenity.

In the confession tapes, DiNardo clearly admits to killing each one of his victims. In a matter-of-fact tone, he graphically and calmly describes the gruesome details of the murders, and tells investigators the killing spree began on July 5 over a botched drug deal with his first victim, 19-year-old Jimi Taro Patrick of Newtown.

The tapes were aired for the first time Wednesday, just hours after DiNardo's guilty plea in connection with killing Patrick, as well as Dean Finocchiaro, 19, Thomas Meo, 21, and Mark Sturgis, 22. He was immediately sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison.

DiNardo's cousin, Sean Kratz, faces homicide charges in the deaths of Meo, Finocchiaro and Sturgis. Kratz did not accept a plea deal and will head to trial.

Investigators had previously provided a detailed timeline of what happened July 5 to 7 on the Solebury Township farm owned by DiNardo's family. However, Wednesday was the first time the public heard these events detailed by the killer himself.

DiNardo, who told investigators he was a middle man for drug deals, said Patrick came to the farm to buy $8,000 worth of marijuana. When he showed up with just $800, DiNardo shot him. He then used a backhoe that was on the property to dig a hole. "Said a prayer, put him in the hole," DiNardo is recorded saying.

DiNardo then explains how he lured Finocchairo to his property two days later for another drug deal, but the plan was for Kratz to rob him alone, then shoot him. Kratz didn't do it. So when the pair returned to the barn, all three were talking and looking at DiNardo's Vespa. When they were done looking at it, DiNardo explains, Finocchiaro went to walk out and that's when shots rang out.

Kratz had shot Finocchairo, DiNardo said. DiNardo took the gun and shot Finocchairo again, even though he said he could tell he was clearly dead.

Kratz, whose confession was also recorded, said he shot Finocchairo because he was afraid of his cousin. "After knowing what he was capable of," Kratz said he feared for his life, and the life of his family members.

The other two victims, Sturgis and Meo, arrived at the property about a half hour later for what they thought would be a drug deal. When they arrived, "they can sense something's not right," DiNardo said in the audiotapes.

DiNardo said he shot them both immediately, but when he ran out of bullets, he used the backhoe to run one of them over.

At the end of the tapes, a sobbing DiNardo says he doesn't know why he did what he did.

“I don’t know why I did this s**t, man. I threw my life away for nothing. My life’s done, for nothing."

You can hear the confession audiotapes here. Warning: the tapes contain disturbing and graphic details.

Image of DiNardo via Bucks DA