Elliott man pleads guilty to murder

Plea deal means 15 to 35 years

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

An Elliott man pleaded guilty Tuesday to third-degree murder for killing a Brookline man who got mad over a $20 drug debt.

Michael Frye, 25, appeared before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Beth A. Lazzara, who sentenced him to 15 to 35 years in prison as part of a plea deal in the death of DeonTraylor, 41.

Frye also was originally charged with theft, but that count was dropped as part of the agreement with prosecutors.

The case stemmed from an October 2016 investigation of the death of Mr. Traylor at his Bayridge Avenue apartment.

Investigators said Frye metMr. Traylor at the apartment to buy $20 worth of crack cocaine. During that time, Mr. Traylor asked Frye to make “runs,” or drug deals, for him, to which he agreed, according to a police affidavit. Frye later told Mr. Traylor that he completed three deals, with the finalone worth $40.

He told Mr. Traylor that he used some of the money for gas and was $20 short, which made Mr. Traylor angry. Mr. Traylor began to yell and stood up, which prompted Frye to run away. Frye then told police he pulled a gun and shot Mr. Traylor in the head, the affidavit said.

Following the murder, Frye stole $500, 11 grams of cocaine, one brick of heroin and a safe from Mr. Traylor’s home, according to the affidavit. He hid the safe on the roof of his apartment building.

Mr. Traylor was taken to UPMC Mercy in critical condition; he was later declared brain dead and taken off life support.

Frye’s attorney, Lyle Dresbold, said the case was a tragedy not just for the victim, but for Frye, who had no previous convictions and had only begun using drugs six months prior to the murder.

“I’m glad they could reach a reasonable solution,” Mr. Dresbold said. “[Frye] regrets his actions and took responsibility. The plea shows the severity of the acts but will hopefully provide him with a semblance of a life [after release].”