‘No body, no crime,’ suspect allegedly said after killing a Northeast Philly man and dismembering him

Peter Gerold, a massage therapist from Northeast Philadelphia whose body was found in the back of a U-Haul truck in February, was tased, beaten, and choked to death before being dismembered in his home, according to newly obtained court documents.

Taray Herring, 47, of Northeast Philadelphia, and his former girlfriend, Jeanette Pace, 42, of Ventnor, are charged with murder, conspiracy, and possession of an instrument of crime in Gerold’s death. Herring had worked for Gerold, helping take care of his numerous pets including parrots, tortoises, bearded dragon lizards, dogs, and koi.

A third person, Rafique McNichols, Pace’s new boyfriend, faces burglary charges in the case, but has not been charged in connection with Gerold’s death. On Monday, the 39-year-old Ventnor resident waived his right to a preliminary hearing; Municipal Court Judge Joffie Pittman III ordered him held for trial and kept his bail at $500,000.

Before the ruling, Joanne Pescatore, assistant supervisor of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s homicide unit, told the judge McNichols had participated in a burglary at Gerold’s home after his death.

Gerold’s dismembered torso was discovered by police who stopped a U-Haul truck a short distance from Gerold’s home on the 1000 block of Sanibel Street in Somerton on Feb. 11, after a neighbor called police about a burglary. Authorities believe Gerold, 70, a massage therapist with offices in Mount Airy and Bucks County, was killed sometime in the days just before his body was discovered.

Herring, in interviews with homicide detectives, did not admit to killing Gerold, but admitted dismembering his body, according to court documents. He said he went to Gerold’s home on Feb. 8 and found him on the floor, bleeding from his head. He allegedly said he stayed in the home with Gerold’s body for at least a day and a half, and then decided to burglarize the home and dismember and dispose of the body.

He said he cooked parts of the body in hot oil in attempts to remove the victim’s DNA, and then disposed of the body in various dumpsters, the records state. He also told detectives that he contacted Pace and McNichols to help him steal things from the home.

McNichols allegedly told authorities Pace told him Herring tased Gerold and, after he fell, Pace and Herring bound Gerold’s hands and ankles with tape.

“Why are you doing this to me, Taray? I tried to help you,” Gerold allegedly said, according to McNichols.

Pace and Herring then dragged Gerold’s body into his garage, where Pace told Herring to cut off Gerold’s hands and feet and “deep fry” them, according to court documents. She also told Herring to pull out Gerold’s teeth, the documents say.

“No body, no crime,” Herring told Pace, according to McNichols’ interview with detectives.

Herring and Pace will face a June preliminary hearing on murder and related charges, Pescatore said.

Authorities have charged the three defendants with taking various items from Gerold’s home, including cash, a television, and medication. Pace is also accused of stealing Gerold’s Ford Expedition SUV, which was recovered by police in Ventnor.

Pace has told detectives Herring invited her to Gerold’s home a few days before Gerold’s body was found. She said Herring wanted her to sell some of Gerold’s animals, and that on Feb. 8, Herring and McNichols broke into Gerold’s safe and took out about $3,000. She contended she and McNichols only later learned that a body had been found and that Herring had been arrested.

Herring’s attorney, Derek Steenson, and McNichols’ attorney, Andre Martino, declined to comment on the case Monday. Pace’s attorney, David Glanzberg, could not be immediately reached, but has previously declined to comment.