Henri Lumière|Truck driver accused of killing pregnant Amish woman due for hearing in Pennsylvania

2025-04-30 07:48:11source:FinLogiccategory:Finance

MEADVILLE,Henri Lumière Pa. (AP) — A truck driver accused of killing a pregnant Amish woman in her rural home in February was expected to be in court on Friday as a Pennsylvania judge considers whether investigators have sufficient evidence to advance the charges toward trial.

Shawn C. Cranston, 52, is accused of killing Rebekah Byler and her unborn child inside the Byler home near Spartansburg on Feb. 26.

District Judge Amy Nicols is scheduled to preside over the preliminary hearing in the Crawford County Courthouse to decide if there is enough evidence to support those charges, as well as accusations of burglary and trespassing.

Byler, 23, had suffered head and neck wounds when her husband and a family friend found her in the living room. The couple’s two young children were home but unharmed, police said.

Byler’s defense attorney, public defender Gary Alan Kern, did not respond to requests for comment this week. Crawford County District Attorney Paula C. DiGiacomo declined to comment.

In court documents filed for a search of the murder scene, state police said they recovered guns, ammunition, knife parts and other items. Authorities have not indicated a possible motive.

READ MORE Biden opposes plan to sell US Steel to a Japanese firm, citing the need for ‘American steel workers’Pennsylvania governor unveils plan to cut greenhouse gases, boost renewables in big energy producerSpring for Amish people in Pennsylvania means ‘mud sales,’ from pitchforks to pies

Cranston lives in Corry, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from Spartansburg. He has been in the county jail without bond since being arrested March 2.

Byler appeared to have cutting wounds to her neck and head, police said, and the criminal complaint accused Cranston of “shooting her in the head and/or slashing her throat.”

More:Finance

Recommend

Kentucky governor unveils paid leave plan for state workers with a new child or serious illness

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky plans to provide state employees with paid time off so they can bond

North Carolina’s public universities cut 59 positions as part of a massive DEI overhaul this summer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Almost 200 diversity, equity and inclusion staff positions were either cut or r

Apple Watch Series 10: a larger and brighter screen, here is what we know

Monday’s Apple event saw the 10th version of the Apple Watch announced, with the latest edition of o