A teenager will spend at least the next 20 years to life in prison for beating Brian Dombek to death, killing Dombek’s dog, and then setting the victim’s house on fire.
David Meyers, 19, was sentenced to 20 years to life for second degree murder and five to 15 years in prison for third degree arson.
In March, fire investigators that a blaze at Dombek’s Sirret Street home in South Buffalo had been intentionally set. An autopsy revealed the 52-year-old had been killed with a blunt object. The body of his German Shepherd, Princess, was also found inside the burned out home.
Meyers attorney told 7 Eyewitness News, his client and the victim were drinking prior to the murder. The attorney says the victim had been making racist comments about Jewish people. Meyers, who is Jewish, had a relative in the Holocaust.
Before he was sentenced, Meyers said, "I am truthfully sorry that I did this; I apologize to Brian's family. There's nothing I can fix. If it was possible to go back and make up for what I did, I would."
Police quickly honed in on Meyers, who they say made admission during questioning. He pleaded guilty in October.
