Homicide charges to go to court in death of Connellsville woman
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Fayette County Detective John Marshall escorts Lisa Nelson, 33, of Connellsville to Central Court Monday afternoon for a preliminary hearing on charges that she and her ex-boyfriend, Peter Shoemaker, allegedly killed Nelson’s 63-year-old mother in November 2015. She waived her charges to court.
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Peter Lee Shoemaker Jr., 34, of Connellsville is escorted to Central Court Monday afternoon for a preliminary hearing on charges that he and his ex-girlfriend, Lisa Nelson, allegedly killed Nelson’s 63-year-old mother in November 2015. His charges were held for court.
A Connellsville woman who is charged with homicide testified against her ex-boyfriend Monday, claiming she survived abuse that allegedly killed her mother.
Lisa Nelson, 33, and Peter Lee Shoemaker Jr., 34, both of Connellsville were charged with criminal homicide after Nelson’s mother, 63-year-old Sally Nelson, suffered a head injury in their Prospect Street residence and died days later in November 2015.
Lisa Nelson waived her charges to the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas after testifying at Shoemaker’s preliminary hearing. Assistant District Attorney Melinda Dellarose said any plea agreements will be determined by a judge. Shoemaker was held for court on all charges.
Nelson testified that Shoemaker beat her mother regularly, saying he would kick and punch her about five times per week after moving in with them in 2014. On Oct. 19, she said a drug-induced fight over money escalated when Shoemaker allegedly grabbed her mother by the neck. One of Nelson’s sons told police Shoemaker hit his grandmother with a table leg.
Nelson said she called 911. Her mother was taken to Highlands Hospital by ambulance and later flown to UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh with a head injury.
Fayette County Detective John F. Marshall read from an autopsy report which said the elder Nelson was markedly underweight and had several healing rib fractures. Her head was shaved because of severe lice.
Photographs taken of Nelson at the hospital by the woman’s former daughter-in-law, Lydia Nelson, showed a gaunt woman with a sunken face and deep bruising, appearing much older than 63.
She testified Nelson lived with her for about eight years, later moving in with another relative and ultimately with Shoemaker, Lisa Nelson and her three children. She said Sally Nelson suffered from schizophrenia and would often “wander off.” She testified the couple would not allow her to see the woman after moving in with them. About seven or eight months before her death, Nelson said she saw her grocery shopping. She described her as looking “raggedy” and “uncared for” and asked her about moving to a nursing home.
“She said, ‘If you can get me out of here, then please,'” she said.
Lisa Nelson testified her mother was not seen by a doctor after January 2015. She said she would eat, but often vomited her food.
“(Shoemaker) said she was faking it and she wasn’t sick,” Nelson testified. “He said it was from the baby and she was trying to be like him.”
She said she went with her mother to the hospital, but claimed Shoemaker “blew up her phone” telling her to come home and take care of the children while her mother was on life support.
Shoemaker’s attorney, James Natale, asked Nelson why she did not leave if she was being abused.
“He controlled my mind, too. I was scared,” she said. “I was scared to breathe the wrong way.”
She said she had no income, and Shoemaker controlled income received by her mother and three children.
Nelson said Shoemaker’s name with apparent disdain every time she was asked to refer to him by name, prompting Natale to ask if she had ill will toward his client.
“I do not like him for taking my mom from me,” she said.
Natale argued his client’s homicide charge be dismissed, saying there was nothing presented to prove Shoemaker’s actions caused the woman’s death.
Dellarose painted a picture of Nelson before moving in with the couple as a woman with long hair, a healthy weight and the ability to speak and make her own decisions.
“She died after two years living with the defendant and Lisa Nelson,” she said.
Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. Shimshock held all charges for court.
Both Nelson and Shoemaker are charged with criminal homicide, conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. They are lodged in Fayette County Prison without bond.