Jury begins deliberating Dallas Township attempted homicide case

Oct. 26—WILKES-BARRE — By chapters.

Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Brian Coleman carefully reviewed the attempted homicide case against Todd William Bebo, beginning with a Nov. 11, 2022, incident where he threatened his ex-girlfriend with an AR15, to violating a protection-from abuse order granted Nov. 23, 2022, to when a video surveillance camera captured him behind the woman's residence carrying a sledgehammer and a modified shotgun on Dec. 9, 2022.

Coleman admitted there are many chapters to follow telling a Luzerne County jury they need to write the last chapter by convicting Bebo, 52, with attempting to kill Melissa M. Mallis at her Dakota Drive, Dallas Township home.

Bebo's attorney, Nanda Palissery, told the jury Bebo may have had bad intentions but "had a change of heart," telling the jury video footage showed him turning around and walking away.

"He simply wanted to talk," Palissery said.

Coleman and Palissery presented their closing arguments Thursday afternoon following a three-day trial before Judge David W. Lupas.

Dallas Township police charged Bebo with attempting to commit criminal homicide and other offenses after listening to a jailhouse phone call he had with his mother in January 2023.

During the phone call, which was recorded, Bebo's mother stated, "You said you were going to kill her and yourself." Bebo responded, "I was."

Palissery suggested the "I was" response was in the form of a question as "I was?" while Coleman said the jailhouse phone call recording speaks for itself.

Throughout the trial, Coleman and co-prosecutor Julian Truskowski relied on the Nov. 11, 2022, incident that prompted the alleged actions of Bebo on Dec. 9, 2022.

Mallis testified during the trial that she attended a Dave Matthews Tribute band show at a Plains Township restaurant and bar with Bebo and two friends on Nov. 11, 2022.

Bebo became angry as he was left at the bar alone as Mallis went outside with her three friends.

When they arrived at Mallis' house, Bebo grabbed his AR15 and fired a shot while threatening Mallis and her two friends.

Mallis on Nov. 23, 2022, obtained a protection-from abuse order prohibiting Bebo from having any contact with her for three years.

Due to the restraining order, Bebo was required to surrender all firearms and ammunition.

Dallas Township police Det. Robert Odgers Jr. testified he reviewed a firearms relinquishment form with Bebo on Nov. 22, 2022, when Bebo signed and acknowledged all his firearms and ammunition had been surrendered, including the AR15 assault rifle.

However, Odgers said he discovered 25 shotgun shells in a bag in a flower pot, three loaded AR15 magazines in a gun case and 30 loaded AR15 magazines in a plastic tote in Mallis' garage.

One specific firearm, a double-barrel sawed-off shotgun was not turned over, Coleman and Truskowski argued, as Mallis' video security system recorded Bebo holding the shotgun along with the sledgehammer and what they called a "murder kit" the night of Dec. 9, 2022, behind Mallis' residence.

Coleman said Bebo believed Mallis was not supposed to be home that night as weeks earlier, she purchased tickets to a stand-up comedy show at the FM Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre but decided to stay home.

Coleman suggested to the jury Bebo intended to use the sledgehammer to smash a window, enter Mallis' house and wait for her return.

Bebo opted not to testify and Palissery did not call any defense witnesses.

Along with the criminal attempt to commit criminal homicide, Bebo is also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, possessing instruments of crime and possessing an illegal firearm.