Teen accused in New Ken murder case 1 of 2 back in custody after fleeing Westmoreland detention center

Police detained two teenagers, including one charged with second-degree murder related to a shooting in New Kensington last year, who escaped from the Westmoreland County Juvenile Detention Center in Hempfield on Saturday night.

The teenagers were taken into custody in Fayette County, state police announced early Monday morning.

Robert A. Cogdell, 14, and Braedon M. Dickinson, 16, both of Connellsville, fled on foot from the detention center about 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Dickinson is facing charges of second-­degree murder, robbery and conspiracy in the murder of Jason Raiford, 39, a New Kensington man who was killed July 3, 2022. Dickinson is accused of being part of a conspiracy of seven teens and adults who attempted to rob Raiford.

State police from Uniontown and Greensburg, along with the Westmoreland County Sherriff’s office, were credited with the arrests.

Police said in a statement Monday morning that the teens were caught overnight after a foot pursuit.

Dickinson’s case was transferred to juvenile court last spring, and he was placed on house arrest after being hospitalized following a failed suicide attempt while in custody at the juvenile detention center.

Dickinson is scheduled to appear Dec. 21 before Common Pleas Judge Michele Bononi on a prosecution request to return his case to the adult criminal justice system, where he potentially faces decades in prison if convicted. If he is tried and convicted in juvenile court, he cannot be held in custody beyond his 21st birthday.

On Friday, 16-year-old Amir Kennedy was found guilty of the intentional killing of Raiford.

On Sunday afternoon, Pennsylvania State Police said the pair were suspected of stealing a pickup truck overnight.

South Greensburg police were searching for a Ford F-150 King Ranch truck, described as white with brown trim, with a Pennsylvania license plate of ZKZ-0101.

Troopers said there was a .45-caliber handgun inside the truck.