Officials probe woman’s death
CONNELLSVILLE – Officials are investigating the death of a woman found in her home Monday afternoon. Connellsville police Lt. Detective Steven Shaffer said the woman’s death appears to be suspicious and is under investigation. The 58-year-old Connellsville woman’s body was found in her 150 S. Eighth St. home around 6 p.m.
“We can’t draw any conclusions at this time, but we are investigating,” Shaffer said, declining to comment further on details surrounding the woman’s death.
Shaffer said a relative found the woman unresponsive in the home and called 911.
“We hope to have more answers within the next few days,” he said.
Officials said the woman appeared to have been beaten and suffered injuries to the head.
Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip Reilly said forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht in Pittsburgh will conduct an autopsy on the woman today to determine the official cause and manner of death.
Reilly said he could not pinpoint an approximate time of death until an autopsy is conducted. Officials said it is possible the woman died late Sunday night or early Monday morning.
Family members gathered outside the home, which was cordoned off by police tape, and comforted each other Monday night as police collected evidence from inside the house.
The woman’s daughter, who declined to be identified, said the family became concerned when they were unable to reach her mother and that a relative went to check on her and found the body.
The daughter said the family suspects a man her mother was familiar with is responsible for her death. The woman allegedly knew the man for about seven years, according to the daughter, noting that the family never suspected abuse.
“My mother was tough. I don’t think she would have taken any abuse. I never suspected any,” the daughter said.
The man who the family named as a suspect was also found dead in another Connellsville home early Monday, prior to the woman’s body being found, officials said.
Officials said the body of a 63-year-old Connellsville man, who was also believed to reside in Pittsburgh, was found in a house on McCormick Avenue.
Reilly confirmed the man’s death and said it is under investigation. Wecht will also conduct an autopsy on the man’s body today, he said.
Reilly said Monday night that it was too soon to tell if the man and woman’s deaths are related or if officials believe the man to be a suspect in the woman’s death.
“Whether there is any relation or not is what we have to look into,” he said.
Reilly said Connellsville police are investigating both deaths.
Shaffer declined to say Monday night if the man was a suspect in the woman’s death and did not speak about the man’s death.
The identities of both the woman and man were withheld pending family notification and further investigation.
Roger Victor, chief investigator for the coroner’s office, Deputy Coroner Jessie Langer and state police were also on scene assisting Connellsville police. Connellsville police Lt. Detective Steven Shaffer meets with family members about the death. (Robert Esquivel/Herald-Standard)