Peters Township man pleads guilty to stabbing friend in backseat of car
Christopher Lee Cavanagh sobbed as he pleaded guilty to stabbing a friend during a drunken argument as they shared a ride home in an Uber nearly two years ago, telling the man in court he wished he could have apologized to him earlier.
“I’ve definitely been waiting a year-and-a-half to tell Ryan how sorry I am,” Cavanaugh said Wednesday while facing Judge Valarie Costanzo inside the Washington County Courthouse, alluding to his inability to speak until after his legal case was adjudicated. “It’s unfathomable the feeling I’ve felt the last year-and-a-half not being able to tell him I’m sorry.”
Cavanagh and Ryan Henning were in the back seat of a ride-sharing car on Jan. 12, 2024, when an argument ensued between the two friends and Cavanagh pulled out a knife and stabbed Henning in the chest. The Uber driver called 911, and Cecil Township police responded to the vehicle in the 40 block of Georgetown Road and found Henning seriously injured. Henning was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment and survived.
Cavanagh, 41, of Peters Township, was charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, false alarm, harassment and public drunkenness. He pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated assault, and was immediately sentenced by Costanzo to serve 18 to 36 months in a state prison, while also paying $10,872 in restitution, the majority of which will go to Henning.
Cavanagh said he doesn’t remember anything from the attack and woke up the next morning shocked to learn what he had done to his friend. He told the judge that he hoped he could use this as a learning experience and better himself while in prison.
“To my friend, Ryan, I’m sorry,” Cavanagh said before formally pleading guilty. “I love you.”
Henning sat in the courtroom gallery and listened to Cavanagh speak, but he did not give a victim impact statement about the ordeal. Several of Cavanagh’s family members also attended and cried as he spoke.
“He’s here accepting responsibility,” defense attorney Peter Marcoline III said about the plea.
Cavanagh was given time credit for the six days he spent in the Washington County jail following his arrest, but he was later given an unsecured bond and has been free while waiting for his case to be adjudicated. Costanzo ordered him to report to the county jail on May 23, and he will then be moved to a state prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.