A man from Pennsylvania has been taken into custody and accused of the murder of a pregnant Amish woman whose body was discovered in her residence last week.
Shawn Cranston, 52, from Corry, was arrested on Friday night, shortly after 23-year-old Rebekah Byler was discovered with injuries to her neck and head, as stated by Pennsylvania law enforcement.
Allegations have been made against Mr. Cranston for entering the residence on Fish Flats Road in Sparta Township and causing harm to Byler by shooting her in the head and/or slashing her throat, as stated in the criminal complaint.
- California RESIDENTS To RECEIVE $500 MONTHLY PAYMENTS In New Guaranteed Income Program: Here Is Who Is Eligible
- Us Job Market Booms With 272,000 New Jobs, But Unemployment Rises Slightly To 4.0%
- Credit Scores Of 720+ See Improved Loan Rates This Week
- Examining The Facts: Fact Check On IRS $8700 Stimulus Check Eligibility & Payment Dates
- Gas Prices On Downward Trend As Fourth Of July Road Trips Approach: AAA
Andy Byler discovered Byler’s body inside the home on 26 February. According to Trooper Cynthia Schick, the two young Byler children at the home were unharmed, as reported to The Associated Press.
Amish Community Shocked: Man Faces Serious Charges
The rural community in northwestern Pennsylvania was deeply shocked by the killing, as the Amish are known for their good relationships with neighbors in the area.
On Friday, Mr. Cranston was apprehended outside a Dollar General store located on Main Street, near his residence.
He faces charges of criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary, and criminal trespass, as per court records.
After the arrest, a woman who identified herself as his foster daughter spoke to FOX66, stating that Cranston is the only father she has ever known and suggesting that the murder may be a case of mistaken identity.
“I could never imagine my father being such a heartless creature.” “Never in a million years,” the woman exclaimed.
“He just wanted his grandson back,” she mentioned while discussing the Amish couple who had lived in Byler’s home and adopted Mr. Cranston’s grandson a few years ago.
She allegedly began shouting at him, entered the room, and that’s when everything escalated. It’s absolutely terrifying to consider that,” she expressed.
The Amish community typically adheres to fundamental Christian beliefs and practices, although they are not entirely uniform, as noted by the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania.
They are recognized for their modest attire and preference for traveling by horse and buggy.
Local communities have different guidelines in place concerning attire, technology usage, and involvement in American culture.
There are almost 400,000 Amish individuals living in numerous settlements spread across 32 states, Canada, and Bolivia.
Pennsylvania boasts one of the highest concentrations of Amish communities.