Getaway Car Driver Pleads Guilty To 3rd Degree Murder After 2017 Pottstown Death

POTTSTOWN, PA — A 2017 robbery and death in Pottstown brought a guilty plea to a third-degree murder charge this week in Chester County court.

Jonathan Malave, 36, of Reading, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery for his role in the 2017 murder of 17-year-old David Doyle III in Pottstown.

According to the District Attorney's Office, Malave drove the car carrying two of three co-defendants after the murder.

Chester County Judge David Bortner sentenced Malave to 17 to 34 years in prison.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said, "Jonathan Malave helped orchestrate the robbery of drugs and money and drove the get-away car after the murder of a 17-year-old. This is a senseless tragedy that impacts the lives of so many people. While this sentence doesn't change the fact that a child was killed, hopefully, it brings justice to the victim’s family."

On Sept. 24, 2017, North Coventry Police (NCPD) responded to the report of a person shot at a residence on Worth Boulevard in Pottstown. When police arrived, they found a 17-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to the stomach. The victim was transported to Reading Hospital, where he died the next day, according to the DA's report.

NCPD and Chesco Detectives learned that the murder happened during a home-invasion robbery that Malave and three co-defendants planned, believing drugs and money were inside the apartment. Malave’s role in the scheme was to drive the get-away car.

The co-defendants are awaiting trial.

North Coventry Police Department and Chester County Detectives investigated. Senior Deputy District Attorney Carlos Barraza and Deputy District Attorney Emily Provencher were the prosecutors.

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