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'Epitome Of Pure Evil': Pennsylvania Man Took 277 Photos of Crime Scene, Including Selfies, After Beating Mom to Death

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Source: MEGA; Allegheny County Police Department

Oct. 5 2023, Published 2:03 p.m. ET

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A Pennsylvania man beat his mother to death and made off with her money and her jewelry. But before he left, he took 277 photographs of his handiwork — including selfies of his blood-stained face and his mom’s corpse.

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Now, the 33-year-old man will have to spend the next 20 to 40 years behind bars. However, a relative complained that's not enough for the killer.

Recently, an Allegany County judge in Pittsburgh sentenced David Sumney, 33, for the senseless beat down of his 67-year-old mother, Margaret Sumney, after he pleaded guilty to third-degree murder.

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The battered Margaret Sumney’s was found in the bathroom of her South Lafayette home on Sept. 2, 2019, after concerned family members asked police to conduct a welfare check.

The proud grandmother and co-owner of a dance studio died from blunt force trauma that left her with a fractured rib, a spinal fracture, cuts and contusions across her face and body.

While searching her son’s home, investigators uncovered the cache of disturbing cell phone pictures, including gloating selfies with the killer giving a thumbs-up pose.

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During the trial, his defense tried to excuse the murder by claiming David Sumney wasn’t in his right mind at the time because he was on “extremely high doses” of Adderall, according to the Daily Beast.

Family members were furious by the plea deal and wanted David Sumney to face life in prison based on a presumptive first-degree murder conviction.

"He is the epitome of pure evil," David Sumney’s cousin, Margo, told the Fox affiliate WFIN. "We will never find peace with any of this."

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Half-sister Ellen Sumney told the Daily Beast: “You paralyzed our mother. And then you just beat her and beat her. The blood was splattered along the walls. But I think the sickest part is the pictures. The 277 pictures. You only take pictures if you want to go back and see what you did.”

Under the plea deal, David Sumney could conceivably serve only 17 years behind bars since he already served three years awaiting his trial.

"For someone that, it appears, that they enjoyed killing someone, with a violent history, he should never be out in society again," Ellen Sumney told CBS News.

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