Deadly home invasion probed
MORRIS TWP. – State police are investigating a home invasion that resulted in the death of a Greene County woman late Sunday in her home. Trooper David Davidson said Betty Jane McClellan, 70, was found dead at her residence at 487 Stringtown Road in Sycamore after an alleged home invasion around 9:40 p.m. According to police, her husband, Jacob McClellan, 67, was injured in the home invasion and was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital. He remained in stable condition late Monday.
Betty McClellan’s daughter, Shelly Amos James, said Monday that her mother was someone who liked being around people. She also said she was a wonderful mother.
“She was always there for us. Any band thing, chorus, school plays, she was there,” James said. “Everybody in the community knew her. She had a great smile all of the time and a great personality.”
James said her mother worked at the Pennsylvania Livestock Auction in Waynesburg.
“She was not only an employee of mine. She was a friend of mine. She was just like a sister to me,” said Patty Friend of the livestock auction. “She was the most honest, upright person you’d ever want to meet. She was always there to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it… I just can’t say enough good words about her.”
Greene County Deputy Coroner Mary Lewis said an autopsy will be performed to determine how Betty McClellan died.
She declined to comment pending further investigation.
Officials said shots were fired but did not divulge any further information.
Davidson said police are searching for at least two suspects traveling in an older model white Ford Econoline van.
Davidson said one of the suspects was described as a white man in his 40s, between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a medium build, brown hair and a light mustache. He was wearing a camouflage shirt and pants.
Descriptions of additional suspects were not available Monday afternoon.
Davidson said police are continuing to investigate the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 724-627-6151.