MEADVILLE, Pa. — 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.
Cranston lives in Corry, about 8 miles 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.”
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Why tho? Just doesn’t add up 🤷🏾♀️ prayers to
The victims husband and children.
🫶🏾
Why does anyone kill anyone ? You could ask , but there’s alot here to ponder that is not answered. But still what a sad story, 23 years old with child , my heart goes out to that family & that community 🙏 . Sick evil times we’re living in.
I’m not certain, but rumor has it that there was some sort of long standing feud in their neighborhood. Obviously it’s NO excuse. This devil of a man deserves the death penalty for killing this young woman and her unborn child.