Man to stand trial in beating death of child
A Point Marion man police allege brutally assaulted a 4-year-old child over several weeks resulting in the child’s death last month will stand trial and prosecutors said that they are exploring the possibility of seeking the death penalty in the case.
State police Trooper James A. Pierce said Patrick Ray Haney Jr., 27, of 1129 Morgantown Road was charged Sept. 14 before Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr. with criminal homicide in the beating death of Trenton Lewis St. Clair.
The boy’s mother and Haney’s live-in girlfriend, Heather L. Forsythe, 27, also was charged before George with a single felony count of endangering the welfare of a child, Pierce said.
Magisterial District Judge Randy S. Abraham held the charge of homicide against Haney to Fayette County Court following testimony from investigators and the emergency room physician that pronounced St. Clair dead at a preliminary hearing today.
Forsythe waived the charge against her to court without a hearing.
For full details, read tomorrow’s HeraldStandard.com.