District Attorney Welsh issues statement after securing a murder conviction in the Dailey case

CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – Clarion County District Attorney Drew Welsh issued a statement following the conviction of Jeremy Dailey for the murder of Thomas Kemmer, expressing his gratitude to the jury and his team following a week-long trial.

“Our justice system only works if we get ordinary citizens to donate time of their lives to take their civic duties seriously,” Welsh said. “After a week-long trial, Jeremy Dailey was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated assault, burglary and trespassing.”

The conviction came after Dailey, 49, shot and killed Kemmer, 74, at the victim's home in Limestone Township in the early morning hours of Jan. 29, 2023.

Dailey, who was found naked on the porch of the Kemmer home, shot Kemmer five times in the face after a confrontation in which he disarmed Kemmer with the revolver his wife, Susan, had given him.

Clarion County Chief Public Defender Jacob Roberts argued that Dailey was mentally ill at the time of the murder. Welsh claimed his actions were intentional.

“The district attorney’s office staff deserves great credit for their hard work,” Welsh said. “I would like to take a moment to commend the professional work of Troopers Jacob Knight and John Dubovi when they arrived on scene. When they arrived at a home, they knew an assailant had forced entry and was now in possession of a firearm, and they did not hesitate to act and handled the situation bravely.”

The Kemmer family, who attended the trial every day, received special recognition from Welsh. He praised their strength and perseverance throughout the legal process, noting that they would continue to fight for justice for the loss of their family's patriarch.

“I would also like to thank the entire Kemmer family for their support and commitment to seeking justice for the loss of a cornerstone of their family and this community,” Welsh said.

Reflecting on the case, Welsh thanked his team for their hard work and the community for their support, stating: “Tomorrow there will be another case and another fight, but I am prepared for it with the support of this community.”

Jeremy Dailey's sentencing will be scheduled at a later date following a preliminary investigation.