Jury finds man guilty of 2017 murder of teen in Clearfield County

A man was found guilty in Clearfield County Court on Thursday in the 2017 murder of a Curwensville teen.

On the seventh day of the trial of Denny Bailey, 41, formerly of Woodland, a jury found him guilty of all charges in connection with the death of 19-year-old Chase Anderson, who went missing in August 2017. His body was found in a wooded area of Pike Township.

During the trial a picture was painted of a relationship that began with Anderson working for Bailey, driving him to medical appointments and to pick up drugs.

Before he went missing in August 2017, Anderson was questioned by police about the vacant apartment where he had been living. He mentioned that Bailey’s girlfriend, Chantell Demi, now 30, had suggested he stay there and Kenja Tew, now 26, was also staying there.

Police told him he needed to report to the police station on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017 for further questioning or there would be a warrant issued for him on a burglary charge.

Bailey, Tew and Demi became concerned about Anderson “ratting” him out, as Bailey noted in his testimony.

Tew testified earlier in the trial that he went with Bailey to a secluded area in Pike Township, luring Anderson there by saying there were going to pick up drugs.

Tew was told by Bailey to put Anderson in a choke hold while Bailey would beat him up. The plan was to leave him there, he said.

But Anderson was able to get loose and then fought with Bailey, who stabbed him multiple times. Bailey also ordered Tew to “finish him,” Tew testified.

He admitted he stabbed Anderson a few times in the shoulder with a pocket knife.

After Anderson was reported missing by his mother, Tew was questioned about comments he made about Anderson not coming back and he was able to take authorities to Anderson’s body.

As First Assistant District Attorney Leanne Nedza pointed out in her closing arguments Thursday, “if Kenja had not led them there, they might never have found the body.”

At another point in the trial, Nedza said that Anderson talked to police on Aug. 12, 2017 and the next day Demi was out buying items such as garbage bags and duct tape, as they plotted against him.

He never made it to the police station on Aug. 14, 2017.

Bailey’s defense presented by attorney Joe Ryan of Reynoldsville was that Bailey’s original story to police admitting he was at the scene of the crime was not a confession but his attempt to cover for Demi.

In his own testimony, Bailey said Demi was the one who left with Tew and Bailey and returned covered with blood.

The jury found Bailey guilty of first degree murder, kidnapping, conspiracy and related charges.

The case against Tew is still pending, but he has been offered a plea agreement for second degree murder. Demi has signed a plea agreement which could give her a sentence of 15 to 30 years in state prison.