UNIONTOWN, PA - A man allowed two people to stay in his home, but when he demanded they leave, they allegedly stabbed him to death.
Police have since arrested 30-year-old Alysha Riggans and 58-year-old Terry Newland. Both have been charged with criminal homicide, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse, according to court documents reviewed by Law & Crime.
Riggans faces additional charges of theft by unlawfully taking and use of an access device to obtain or attempt to obtain property or services. The two defendants are accused of killing 71-year-old Ralph Brown, the Fayette County District Attorney's Office announced.
Riggans and Newland lived with Brown at his home, but as authorities investigated the incident, they learned that the defendants were more like squatters, refusing to leave even months after Brown wanted them out.
"They were going to basically take a room for a short amount of time, and ended up changing their address to a point where he couldn't really get them out," Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele said. The pair was fighting with Brown about money the week before his death, Aubele added.
At some point, Riggans and Newland allegedly decided on a plan to kill the homeowner and steal money from him. Riggans said that on April 1, when Brown returned to the home, she allegedly saw Newland stab him in the neck with a knife and then beat the victim in the head with a table.
She further alleged that she and Newland then tied a bag around Brown's head, wrapped his feet with cords, and stored the body in the home's basement for two days.
Early Sunday morning, April 5, the two defendants allegedly dropped Brown's body, which was wrapped in a blanket, "along an active railway near Kerr Street," the DA's office said. The victim's remains were discovered there on Sunday. Authorities identified the body as Brown's and determined that Riggans and Newland had stolen money from his bank accounts.
Investigators went to Brown's home and "met with our two defendants," Aubele said. "And as soon as we walked into the house, we noticed items of forensic value, including potential blood."
Riggans and Newland were arrested and were preliminarily arraigned in court on Monday, April 6. Both were denied bail. They are expected to return to court on April 20.
Police have since arrested 30-year-old Alysha Riggans and 58-year-old Terry Newland. Both have been charged with criminal homicide, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse, according to court documents reviewed by Law & Crime.
Riggans faces additional charges of theft by unlawfully taking and use of an access device to obtain or attempt to obtain property or services. The two defendants are accused of killing 71-year-old Ralph Brown, the Fayette County District Attorney's Office announced.
Riggans and Newland lived with Brown at his home, but as authorities investigated the incident, they learned that the defendants were more like squatters, refusing to leave even months after Brown wanted them out.
"They were going to basically take a room for a short amount of time, and ended up changing their address to a point where he couldn't really get them out," Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele said. The pair was fighting with Brown about money the week before his death, Aubele added.
At some point, Riggans and Newland allegedly decided on a plan to kill the homeowner and steal money from him. Riggans said that on April 1, when Brown returned to the home, she allegedly saw Newland stab him in the neck with a knife and then beat the victim in the head with a table.
She further alleged that she and Newland then tied a bag around Brown's head, wrapped his feet with cords, and stored the body in the home's basement for two days.
Early Sunday morning, April 5, the two defendants allegedly dropped Brown's body, which was wrapped in a blanket, "along an active railway near Kerr Street," the DA's office said. The victim's remains were discovered there on Sunday. Authorities identified the body as Brown's and determined that Riggans and Newland had stolen money from his bank accounts.
Investigators went to Brown's home and "met with our two defendants," Aubele said. "And as soon as we walked into the house, we noticed items of forensic value, including potential blood."
Riggans and Newland were arrested and were preliminarily arraigned in court on Monday, April 6. Both were denied bail. They are expected to return to court on April 20.
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