Police arrest suspect in homicides
State police arrested a 19-year-old South Union Township man Thursday for killing four people, including an unborn child, after speaking with a 12-year-old boy who survived the shooting. Mark Duane Edwards Jr. of Snyder Terrace, Bierer Wood Acres, is facing charges of four counts of homicide as well as one count each of arson and related offenses, attempted homicide, aggravated assault and burglary.
Following a 6:50 a.m. fire Sunday morning at their 323 Kennedy St. Extension, North Union Township, home, the bodies of Larry Bobish Sr., 50, his wife, Joanna Bobish, 42, and their daughter, Krystal Bobish, 17, were found.
Their son, Larry Bobish Jr., 12, was found shot and his throat cut but alive outside the home and taken to Children’s Hospital for treatment.
An autopsy revealed that the Bobishes each died of single gunshot wounds suffered before the fire at the home. Krystal Bobish was also found to be five months pregnant with a male fetus. According to information released by Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly, the unborn child lived for a few minutes after its mother was shot but then died.
During a press conference outside the Uniontown State Police barracks Thursday afternoon, Commander Lt. Harvey Cole said Edwards’ arrest stemmed from statements received from Larry Bobish Jr. Thursday morning.
Fayette County District Attorney Nancy Vernon said Larry Bobish Jr. positively identified Edwards as the shooter. She said he was identified both by name and photo.
Although a thorough interview of Larry Bobish Jr. has not been completed, Vernon said Larry Bobish Jr. told police that Edwards “came in shooting.” She said Larry Bobish Jr. said Edwards shot his father, mother, and sister and then started “cutting and shooting him.” She said Larry Bobish Jr. was familiar with Edwards. Vernon said Larry Bobish Jr. told police he ran out of the house.
According to the arrest warrant, the boy told rescue officers at the scene of the fire that “Marky did this to him.’
State Police Cpl. Andre Stevens was helping his children deliver Herald-Standard newspapers when he saw the fire and spotted the boy outside the house. He assisted the boy until ambulance workers arrived.
The police Special Emergency Response Team arrested Edwards at 2:45 p.m. in a vehicle at the intersection of Dunlap and Coolspring streets in Uniontown. Cole said the arrest occurred without further incident.
Another occupant of the vehicle was also apprehended, but was interviewed and then released without being charged. Edwards was taken to the state police barracks for an interview prior to his arraignment.
Sgt. Charles Depp, head of the criminal investigation unit, said Edwards is also believed to be responsible for the fire that gutted the home and will face charges for that offense.
Vernon said the burglary charges filed against Edwards stemmed from entering a home with the intent to commit a crime, and was not necessarily because Edwards was attempting to commit a burglary.
The Bobishes were previously robbed at gunpoint of $3,500 in January. Terrance Lett was charged with the offense and is awaiting a hearing in the Fayette County Prison.
Although the Bobishes had not been charged with drug offenses, neighbors previously said that vehicles were in and out of the home at all hours of the night.
Vernon did not comment on the motive, but Depp said statements by Larry Bobish Jr. went along with other evidence. Depp said the case is still under investigation and is “nowhere near complete.”
Vernon said police had no information on whether or not Edwards was the father of Krystal Bobish’s son.
Edwards was arraigned at approximately 6:15 p.m. before North Union District Justice Deberah Kula.
Sitting with his head in his hands, he was joined by what appeared to be friends and family members.
He answered all of Kula’s questions and told her that he was on probation for a burglary charge that he claimed had been dropped.
He answered, “not really,” to Kula’s question about whether he had a criminal record.
Unemployed, Edwards said he has a child on the way.
He said he had been living at 56 Snyder Terrace for the past four months and had resided previously at 41 Snyder Terrace.
Before being taken by state police troopers to the Fayette County Prison, Edwards said that his shoes were taken as evidence and the clothes he was wearing Thursday evening at the arraignment, a white tank top and blue pants, were also being seized by police for evidence purposes.
Taking a moment before being led away, Edwards described his arrest.
“There were a thousand guns in my face,” he said. “I thought they were going to blow my head off if I moved.”
Kula scheduled Edwards’ preliminary hearing for April 25 at 1:30 p.m.
(Herald-Standard reporter Steve Ostrosky also contributed to this report)