Man Charged In Bloody Homicide Of Stepfather

The stepson of a Bristol Township man was charged in his death Friday afternoon.

Brian Joseph Carey, 41, who has past addresses in Bensalem Township and Philadelphia, was preliminarily arraigned before District Judge Kevin Wagner on charges of homicide, possession instrument of crime, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, stalking, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He was being held without bail due to the seriousness of the crime.

Carey is accused of killing his stepfather, Joseph “Dutch” Jakimowicz, 78, who was found dead in the Winder Drive home he owned since 2013 on Tuesday around 7:15 p.m. Jakimowicz’s death was ruled a homicide by the coroner.

In court papers filed Friday afternoon, authorities said Carey and Jakimowicz were estranged and the victim had become concerned for his safety after recent threats.

On Tuesday evening, one of Jakimowicz’s adult children arrived at their father’s home in the 700 block of Winder Drive after learning the man did not have his silver 2006 Chevrolet Trailerblazer picked up for service. The son reported seeing his dad lying in a pool of blood on the floor when he peered inside, police said.

The son made entry through a rear door that was ajar and found his deceased father, who appeared to have been attacked, police said.

Investigators said Bristol Township officers arrived to find Jakimowicz on the floor in the fetal position. He was in a pool of blood and had a “gaping, jagged” laceration on the back of his neck. He also appeared to have been stabbed a number of times in the face and back.

Jakimowicz kept a large plastic container with change in the home, but it was found largely empty following the homicide. It is suspected Carey took it, police said.

Two of Jakimowicz’s children told investigators Carey and their father had been on bad terms. Jakimowicz’s wife, Donna, who was Carey’s mother, had died a few years prior and Carey accused his stepfather of killing his mother, police said.

Carey also reportedly claimed Jakimowicz stole his inheritance from his mother.

The mother of Jakimowicz’s other children told police Carey had a “hit list” of family members he wanted to kill. Jakimowicz was on the list, police said.

Police cameras installed in the Winder Village neighborhood were used to investigate the murder. One shot showed a man get off a SEPTA bus near the scene and walking to Jakimowicz’s home at 2:18 p.m., authorities said.

At 2:39 p.m., the man was seen leaving Jakimowicz’s home from the rear door and driving off in the victim’s Trailblazer, police said.

Jakimowicz’s daughter reviewed the video and said the man in the footage appeared to be Carey, police said.

Police in Bristol Township and around the region launched a search for Carey following the death so they could question him. The Trailblazer was found unoccupied in Philadelphia and Carey later located by state police at a bar in Upper Buck County.

Following Carey’s arrest for possession of suspected methamphetamine and smoking pipes in Upper Bucks County, he spoke with Bristol Township police and Bucks County Detectives, according to court papers.

Carey admitted to investigators that Jakimowicz would never let him drive his Trailblazer or any of his vehicles, police said.

Detectives wrote in court papers Carey had a fresh scratch on his left thumb and dried blood around his nails. He also reportedly had black residue under his fingernails and dried blood stains on his hoodie.

Blood splatter from Carey’s clothes was tested for DNA and matched that of Jakimowicz, police said.

An autopsy revealed Jakimowicz died from the “deep” lacerations to his face, neck, and back, police said.

“Despite Mr. Jakimowicz’s tragic murder, I am relieved that law enforcement was able to apprehend his killer before he could potentially carry out more murders of people on his alleged kill list,” District Attorney Matt Weintraub said in a statement. “We certainly would not have caught him as quickly as we did without the public’s help, those who responded with several tips as to his whereabouts when we were looking for him. In addition, I thank the Bristol Township Police, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Bucks County Detectives for their relentless pursuit of this killer until they apprehended him.” 

Jakimowicz was a retired Philadelphia corrections officer and a U.S. Army veteran.

In addition to the homicide case, Carey is being held in the drug case on 10 percent of $750,000 bail.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.

Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies

---

---