4 charged in beating death of Exeter man

READING>> Four people have been arrested in connection with a brutal assault that left an Exeter man dead earlier this month.

According to court documents, Kyle Richard Adams, 21, of Birdsboro; Skylar Thomas Kerns, 19, of Reading; Paul J. Cook Jr., of Birdsboro, and Joseph B. White, 20, of Reading, have been charged in the assault that resulted in the death of Donovin Yenser, 18, of Exeter.

Yenser was found bleeding early Dec. 6 after police responded to a reported fight in which several people were allegedly assaulting a man at 98 Duryea Drive near the city’s famous Pagoda landmark, according to a release issued by the Reading Police Department.

Police were called to the scene

at 1:44 a.m. and found Yenser off the side of the road and over the cliff seriously injured.

Emergency medical ser-

vices arrived shortly after and transported Yenser to Reading Hospital in West Reading, where he died from his injuries on Wednesday morning, Dec. 7.

Duryea Drive is a windy road that leads to the Pagoda atop Mount Penn,

which overlooks the City of Reading.

Reports indicate that Yenser was in his car when the four men smashed the windows and dragged him out of the vehicle.

Police said the men were arrested on Dec. 23 and are being held at

Berks County Prison, unable to post bail.

Police have not announced a motive for the beating death and the investigation in ongoing.

Adams and Cook are both facing charges of first- degree murder, aggravated assault, simple

assault, conspiracy and possession of an instrument of crime with intent. Kerns and White have been charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and conspiracy.

Bail was set at $250,000 for Kerns and White while Adams and Cook

were held without bail.

Adams and Cook are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 29 before District Just ice Phyllis Kowalski and White and Kerns are scheduled to appear before District Justice Stuart Kennedy on Jan. 6.