A Pennsylvania man called a “person of interest” in the investigation into the disappearance of four men was rearrested on a gun charge Monday after authorities deemed him a flight risk.
Cosmo DiNardo, 20, is being held on $1 million bail after being charged with illegally possessing a shotgun and ammunition in February, Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said on Tuesday.
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DiNardo was arrested on a charge of possession of firearms by a person prohibited from possessing a firearm. (Bucks County District Attorney’s Office)
A judge initially dismissed the charge, but it was refiled. DiNardo has a history of mental illness and had been involuntarily committed to an institution for inpatient care, according to a court affidavit.
MAN LINKED TO SEARCH FOR MISSING PENNSYLVANIA MEN HELD ON $1M BAIL
Weintraub said DiNardo has not been named a suspect, but a person of interest in the disappearance of four men: Mark Sturgis, 22; Tom Meo, 21; Dean Finocchiaro, 19; and Jim Tar Patrick, 19. Patrick was last seen July 5, and the three other men were reported missing July 7.
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This undated photo provided by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office on Monday, July 10, 2017, shows Tom Meo, one of four young men who went missing last week. (Bucks County District Attorney’s Office/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
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This undated photo provided by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office on Monday, July 10, 2017, shows Dean Finocchiaro, one of four young men who went missing last week. (Bucks County District Attorney’s Office/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
Weintraub also stressed the gun charge DiNardo was arrested for on Monday was separate from the missing men investigation.
“I think if someone is charged with something and becomes a person of interest, it’s fair to say to a judge that he now becomes a greater flight risk,” Weintraub said.
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This undated photo provided by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office on July 10, 2017, shows Mark Sturgis, one of four young men who went missing last week. (Bucks County District Attorney’s Office/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
Authorities, however, continued searching for the men on the large swath of roughly 90 acres of farmland DiNardo’s family owned in Solebury Township, about 30 miles north of Philadelphia.
“We are going through it with the equivalent of a fine-tooth comb,” Weintraub said.
POLICE SEARCH FOR 4 MISSING YOUNG MEN IN BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, DA BELIEVES FOUL PLAY INVOLVED
Investigators believe the men were victims of foul play based on information gathered by officials, according to Weintraub. Authorities said earlier they were chasing “incredibly hot” leads.
“We have not recovered any human remains to this point,” Weintraub said at a press briefing. “But we continue to work very very hard on establishing all kinds of investigative leads.”
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This undated photo provided by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office on July 10, 2017, shows Jimi Tar Patrick, one of four young men who went missing last week. (Bucks County District Attorney’s Office/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
Weintraub said it remains unclear what relationship the missing men have with each other as he urged the public to disclose any relevant information. Sturgis’ father has said his son and Meo are longtime friends who work in construction for him. He said Finocchiaro is a mutual friend of theirs.
A car belonging to Sturgis was found in the parking lot of an outdoor shopping mall in nearby New Hope, Pennsylvania Monday morning, FOX 29 reported.
The FBI, Pennsylvania state police and five local law enforcement agencies are involved in the case, with Weintraub describing the investigation as “all hands on deck.”
Officials have urged anyone who has information that could be helpful to the investigation to call 215-297-8201.
Fox News’ Rick Leventhal and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
