Homicide victims died before fire started
Three members of the Bobish family were shot to death prior to the fire that gutted their North Union Township home, according to autopsy results. State police confirmed that a fourth family member, 12-year-old Larry Bobish Jr. (L.J.), was also shot but escaped the home and is being treated in a Pittsburgh hospital. Police said the boy is expected to survive and is in protective custody. The boy was discovered by an off-duty state police officer, given first aid and rushed to the hospital. The state trooper also reported the 6:50 a.m. fire after discovering it while delivering Herald-Standard newspapers with his sons.
Firefighters extinguished the fire at the double-wide mobile home within 15 minutes but were unable to make any rescue attempts due to the intensity of the blaze.
The deceased are Larry Bobish Sr., 50, his wife, Joanna Bobish, 42, and their daughter Krystal Bobish, 17, all of 323 Kennedy St. Extension, off of Coolspring Street.
Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly said each died of a single gunshot wound. He said Krystal Bobish was five months pregnant, and the unborn child died minutes after its mother was shot to death. Reilly said the body destruction was so horrendous that dental matches and DNA will be required to positively identify them.
Reilly, who attended the autopsies that were held in Allegheny County on Monday, said the cause of death for all three victims was homicide. He said toxicology reports won’t be available for seven to 10 days.
Police said they are developing a lot of leads in the murder and arson investigation, but are still in the preliminary stages and have no suspects.
Fayette County District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon called the deaths “heinous acts of senseless violence.”
State police crime supervisor commander Lt. Richard Sethman said killings were done in the “method of execution style.”
Uniontown crime unit supervisor Sgt. Charles Depp said the bodies of the three were found within 20 feet of each other in open area. He said Krystal’s body was in the hallway near dining room. Larry’s body was in the kitchen and Joanna’s body was adjacent to the opening of the master bedroom.
During a press conference by law enforcement officials held Tuesday, Uniontown state police barracks commander Lt. Harvey Cole said the case is now being investigated as a “quadruple homicide” due to the death of the three adults and the unborn child. Vernon declined to comment on the father of the unborn child.
Reilly said Larry Bobish Sr. died of a single bullet wound to the chest that punctured both lungs. Joanna Bobish died of a single gunshot wound to the neck that cut through the main artery and Krystal Bobish died of a single gunshot wound to the right facial area.
Reilly said the unborn child likely demonstrated signs of life but died within minutes of the death of its mother. He said the levels of carbon monoxide in the bodies were not at lethal levels.
“All three people and the baby were deceased before the fire started,” Reilly said.
Vernon said that anyone charged in the crime will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. She urged anyone with information to contact police at 724-439-7111.
Sethman estimated that fire investigators were about 50 percent complete with gathering evidence at the scene. He said it is a “painstaking process” and although it appears the fire had rapid acceleration, it’s too early to tell if accelerants were used.
Police were also unsure if it was a weapon or weapons that were used in the shootings. Sethman said he believes the gun was of a smaller caliber and said they had found some evidence at the scene.
Depp confirmed that a safe was taken out of the basement, but said it has not been opened. He said there is no single motive that is being investigated.
“The possibilities are endless,” Depp said.
In January, police arrested 29-year-old Terrence Lett of 137 Lincoln St., Uniontown, and charged him with robbery, theft by unlawful taking, terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person for allegedly robbing the Bobishes of $3,500 from a basement at gunpoint.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by police for the incident, Lett threatened to return and kill them all if they contacted police. Lett is in the Fayette County Prison awaiting a preliminary hearing on the charges before District Justice Deberah Kula.
Depp said Lett has not yet been interviewed regarding the deaths. Vernon said they will have to look into Lett case to determine if he can still prosecuted since the witnesses were dead.
“We’re leaving no stone uncovered,” she said.
The Fayette County Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for anyone providing information that leads to the arrest of anyone involved in the murder/arson at the Bobish residence on April 14. Call 724-437-TIPS or 1-877-834-TIPS.