Details in Murder Case
Spartansburg – Authorities have confirmed details about the death of Rebekah Byler, the Amish mother killed outside Spartansburg last Monday. Rebekah’s injuries included a gunshot to the head and a deep laceration to her throat; there was a wound described as a scalping wound which may have been from the gunshot. Which one of the injuries was the cause of death hasn’t been revealed by the Crawford County Coroner. Police recovered a broken knife, shell casings, and parts of some guns from the scene. 52-year-old Shawn Cranston of Corry was arrested outside of a Dollar General on Friday for the slaying, his preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Friday.
Free Self-Defense at the Library
Oil City – The Oil City Library is hosting a cost-free self-defense seminar from 7 to 8:15 p.m. next Monday, March 11th. Join certified self-defense instructor, Nelson Figueroa for more than an hour of free self-defense training with easy-to-learn skills and movements appropriate for men and women of all ages and skill levels. This evening is absolutely cost-free and no registration is required, just arrive at the Oil City Library by 7 p.m. Call (814)678-3072 for more information.
Former Deputy Sues Local Sheriff
Mercer – A former deputy named Anthony Tedesco has sued the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, alleging that he was illegally retaliated against after running for Sheriff. Anthony Tedesco was a deputy in the sheriff’s department who ran for the office as a Republican last year but was defeated in the primary by the current sheriff, Tim Callahan. Tedesco’s suit alleges that he was terminated from the department without cause within days of Callahan being sworn into the office. A lawsuit was filed with the Federal Court in Pittsburgh on February 26th naming Mercer County, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, and Sherrif Tim Callahan himself.
Commonwealth Settles Federal Lawsuit with Prisoner
Erie – As part of a settlement, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will pay $85,000 to an inmate currently serving a sentence in SCI Albion. Cain Peltzer has spent the last 15 years locked in the solitary confinement wing of SCI Albion and had sued the commonwealth in Erie’s Federal Court for violations of his 8th Amendment right preventing cruel and unusual punishments and his 14th Amendment right to due process. The 45-year-old Peltzer was convicted of robbery in 1998 and in 2009 the Department of Corrections moved him into solitary confinement indefinitely without any trial for allegedly fighting with other prisoners. The settlement will also see Peltzer moved to a different prison located in Montgomery County.