Post by pubtv on Mar 11, 2008 10:45:17 GMT -5
Deaths Of Ex-Carroll Police Chief, Wife Called Murder For Money
POSTED: 9:22 am EDT March 10, 2008
UPDATED: 5:46 pm EDT March 10, 2008
BELLE VERNON, Pa. -- Two men conspired to rob and kill a former police chief and his wife, who operated a home-based precious metals business, according to the district attorney's office.
Slideshow: See pictures of the suspects
Former Carroll Township police chief Howard Springer and his wife, Nancy, were found shot inside their home on Highland Road on Wednesday evening, police said.
Early Monday morning, police arrested Gerald L. Szakal, 25, on charges of homicide, robbery, receiving stolen property and tampering with or fabricating evidence.
Police said Szakal confessed to killing Springer and his wife.
"He was well-prepared to take things into his own hands if it went beyond robbery," said Lt. Rick Sethman of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Also arrested was Justin John Welch, 21, of Charleroi. Police said he is charged with conspiracy to commit homicide and robbery, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.
A third man -- Gregory Monya Carpenter, 52, of Charleroi -- was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and tampering with or fabricating evidence.
State police investigators said the motive was robbery and they believe Szakal planned the crime with Welch and Carpenter.
When asked if Welch and Carpenter were in the Springers' house when Szakal allegedly shot the couple, police declined to comment.
Police said Szakal was originally picked up on an unrelated burglary charge. During that investigation, they were able to identify him as a suspect in the Springer case.
Szakal apparently had some past dealings with the Springers and called their house three times on the day of the shootings, according to District Attorney Steven Toprani, who said the couple kept detailed business records.
"He did contact the victim before he went there and set it up to meet him there," said Sethman.
"This was the most difficult investigation I've been involved in in 20 years on the force," said Carroll Township police Chief Paul Brand, who succeeded Howard Springer after his retirement. "It meant so much to the community and to us to bring this to a conclusion, and for that to happen in such a quick manner is going to lift a cloud that was hanging over our heads."
Toprani also had a personal connection to the case, having grown up next door to the Springers and gone to school with their daughter.
"They were both true public servants in every sense of the word," he said. "Nancy was a devout teacher, very close to her students, fostered relationships beyond the elementary school years. She took great efforts to ensure that the children she cared about not only had proper lives, but she even helped clothe them sometimes, for some of the less-fortunate children that she had."
Police said more arrests could come in the investigation.
Police said they are also searching for blood-soaked clothes that Szakal said he put in a plastic bag and dumped in the Monongahela River.
www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/15552076/detail.html
POSTED: 9:22 am EDT March 10, 2008
UPDATED: 5:46 pm EDT March 10, 2008
BELLE VERNON, Pa. -- Two men conspired to rob and kill a former police chief and his wife, who operated a home-based precious metals business, according to the district attorney's office.
Slideshow: See pictures of the suspects
Former Carroll Township police chief Howard Springer and his wife, Nancy, were found shot inside their home on Highland Road on Wednesday evening, police said.
Early Monday morning, police arrested Gerald L. Szakal, 25, on charges of homicide, robbery, receiving stolen property and tampering with or fabricating evidence.
Police said Szakal confessed to killing Springer and his wife.
"He was well-prepared to take things into his own hands if it went beyond robbery," said Lt. Rick Sethman of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Also arrested was Justin John Welch, 21, of Charleroi. Police said he is charged with conspiracy to commit homicide and robbery, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.
A third man -- Gregory Monya Carpenter, 52, of Charleroi -- was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and tampering with or fabricating evidence.
State police investigators said the motive was robbery and they believe Szakal planned the crime with Welch and Carpenter.
When asked if Welch and Carpenter were in the Springers' house when Szakal allegedly shot the couple, police declined to comment.
Police said Szakal was originally picked up on an unrelated burglary charge. During that investigation, they were able to identify him as a suspect in the Springer case.
Szakal apparently had some past dealings with the Springers and called their house three times on the day of the shootings, according to District Attorney Steven Toprani, who said the couple kept detailed business records.
"He did contact the victim before he went there and set it up to meet him there," said Sethman.
"This was the most difficult investigation I've been involved in in 20 years on the force," said Carroll Township police Chief Paul Brand, who succeeded Howard Springer after his retirement. "It meant so much to the community and to us to bring this to a conclusion, and for that to happen in such a quick manner is going to lift a cloud that was hanging over our heads."
Toprani also had a personal connection to the case, having grown up next door to the Springers and gone to school with their daughter.
"They were both true public servants in every sense of the word," he said. "Nancy was a devout teacher, very close to her students, fostered relationships beyond the elementary school years. She took great efforts to ensure that the children she cared about not only had proper lives, but she even helped clothe them sometimes, for some of the less-fortunate children that she had."
Police said more arrests could come in the investigation.
Police said they are also searching for blood-soaked clothes that Szakal said he put in a plastic bag and dumped in the Monongahela River.
www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/15552076/detail.html
