Scholarship to honor slain Plymouth man

PLYMOUTH – Friends and family of homicide victim Donald Skiff are hosting a benefit concert to support a music scholarship in his name.

The event is set for Nov. 13 at Rox 52, the former Rinehimer Restaurant, on Main Street, Plymouth.

“Donnie was such an amazing human being,” said Darce Lesko, who is coordinating the concert. “Donnie was a huge music buff; he would want us to do something like this to remember him by.”

Skiff, 34, of Plymouth, was the drummer for the popular hard rock band Wicked Sins, which will highlight the concert from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The band is influenced by 1980s rock groups Warrant, Dokken, Skid Row, Whitesnake, L.A. Guns and Winger.

Before Wicked Sins takes the stage, there will be an acoustic set before the band Crystalyn warms up the crowd.

“Donnie was big in music,” said Lesko’s husband and Skiff’s friend, Craig Lesko. “We’re hoping to have a great concert in his honor.”

Skiff graduated in 1994 from Wyoming Valley West High School, where he was a drummer in the school band.

Darce and Craig said all proceeds from the concert will be going to the Donnie Skiff Wyoming Valley West Music Scholarship Fund.

Skiff was killed April 27 in what investigators say was a robbery. He was fishing with friends in Shickshinny and was allegedly kidnapped by Michael Simonson and Elvis Riccardi, according to arrest records.

Investigators allege that Simonson, 32, and Riccardi, 31, beat Skiff and used his bank card to withdraw money from a credit union in Plains Township on April 27. Several unsuccessful attempts to withdraw money from Skiff’s account were made early on April 28, according to arrest records.