Current:Home > MarketsAn arrest has been made in the slaying of a pregnant Amish woman in Pennsylvania-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
An arrest has been made in the slaying of a pregnant Amish woman in Pennsylvania
View Date:2024-12-23 21:22:13
SPARTANSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania man was arrested Saturday and charged with the slaying of a pregnant Amish woman whose body was found last week.
Shawn C. Cranston, 52, of Corry, has been charged with criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary and criminal trespass, Pennsylvania State Police said.
He was denied bail at a preliminary arraignment early Saturday morning and is being held at the Crawford County jail. Online court records show a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for March 15; they do not list a defense attorney.
Calls and emails to state police, the district attorney and public defender’s offices were not immediately returned Saturday morning.
Cranston’s arrest comes less than a week after authorities found the body of Rebekah A. Byler, 23, in the living room of her home a few miles from Spartansburg.
Police said she appeared to have cutting wounds to her neck and head.
The killing shocked the rural community in northwestern Pennsylvania, where people say the Amish get along well with their neighbors in the area.
Police began their investigation Feb. 26 after Byler’s husband, Andy Byler, found her body inside the home shortly after noon.
Trooper Cynthia Schick told The Associated Press on Thursday the investigation and autopsy have given police an idea of what murder weapon may have been used.
Two young Byler children at the home were not harmed, Schick has said.
The Bylers’ home is located along a dirt road in a very remote farming area. Scores of Amish turned out for calling hours Thursday evening at a home in the community. Many arrived by buggies lit by headlights along the narrow country roads.
Residents said the Amish had a longstanding presence in the area and mix well with the surrounding community. Amish and non-Amish visit each other’s homes, and the Amish work jobs for the non-Amish and attend events like the fish fries, they said. Neighbors have been raising money to help the Byler family.
The Amish generally follow basic Christian beliefs and practices but are not homogeneous, according to the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. They are known for simple clothing and for relying on horses and buggies for transportation. Local congregations maintain a variety of rules and restrictions regarding dress, the use of technology and participation in American society.
The overall Amish population is nearly 400,000 people in hundreds of settlements across 32 states, Canada and Bolivia. Pennsylvania has one of the greatest concentrations of Amish.
veryGood! (48134)
Related
- Cameron Brink set to make Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut
- Target Fall Clothes That Look Expensive: Chic Autumn Outfits on a Budget
- Jean Smart, Ariana Grande, Michael Keaton among hosts for ‘SNL’ season 50
- FAA investigating after Delta passengers report bleeding ears and noses
- Who's hosting 'SNL' tonight? Musical guest, start time, where to watch Nov. 9 episode
- Endangered sea corals moved from South Florida to the Texas Gulf Coast for research and restoration
- Found: The Best Free People Deals Under $50, Featuring Savings Up to 92% Off & Styles Starting at Just $6
- Leaders of Democratic protest of Israel-Hamas war won’t endorse Harris but warn against Trump
- Could trad wives, influencers have sparked the red wave among female voters?
- Video shows masked robbers plunging through ceiling to steal $150,000 from Atlanta business
Ranking
- Kalen DeBoer, Jalen Milroe save Alabama football season, as LSU's Brian Kelly goes splat
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail again and will remain in jail until trial
- Jimmy Carter's Grandson Shares Update on Former President Ahead of 100th Birthday
- Arch Manning to get first start for No. 1 Texas as Ewers continues recovery from abdomen strain
- New 'Yellowstone' is here: Season 5 Part 2 premiere date, time, where to watch
- The viral $2.99 Trader Joe's mini tote bags are back for a limited time
- Voters view Harris more favorably as she settles into role atop Democratic ticket: AP-NORC poll
- Martha Stewart Claims Ina Garten Was Unfriendly Amid Prison Sentence
Recommendation
-
Mattel says it ‘deeply’ regrets misprint on ‘Wicked’ dolls packaging that links to porn site
-
Texas education commissioner calls for student cellphone ban in schools
-
Teen left with burns after portable phone charger combusts, catches bed on fire in Massachusetts
-
Mission specialist for Titan sub owner to testify before Coast Guard
-
Republican David Schweikert wins reelection in affluent Arizona congressional district
-
Happy 50th ‘SNL!’ Here’s a look back at the show’s very first cast
-
Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff seeks more control over postmaster general after mail meltdown
-
Lala Kent Shares Baby Girl Turned Purple and Was Vomiting After Challenging Birth