Man Accused of Killing Pregnant Amish Girl Exhibited ‘Very Odd’ Conduct Earlier than Homicide

Over the weekend, new courtroom docs associated to the slaying of 23-year-old Rebekah Byler — who was discovered “laying on her again in a pool of blood” in the lounge of her household residence by husband Andy Byler — had been unsealed, giving extra perception into the arrest of 52-year-old Shawn C. Cranston and his alleged habits earlier than the homicide.

Byler was killed on February 26; her two kids, ages 2 and three, had been residence on the time of the homicide. Cranston was arrested days later and charged with prison murder, prison murder of her unborn youngster, housebreaking and prison trespassing.

Via interviews with neighbors, by way of Penn Stay, authorities discovered Cranston labored as a driver for a person, William Byler, who lived a couple of mile away; it is unclear whether or not William and the sufferer’s household are associated.

Members of the Amish neighborhood do not drive themselves and sometimes rent drivers, and Cranston started working for the household after filling in for his son, who drove for them beforehand. In line with the docs, William shared the household had “very odd experiences” with Cranston from December 2023 by means of mid-February 2024 — saying he would “randomly present up at their residence,” generally strolling “aimlessly” across the property in all black garments and carrying a gun. “His speech made no sense,” acknowledged the docs, whereas William mentioned he had “an uneasy feeling” in regards to the suspect.

He additionally allegedly requested the household the place they attended church and mentioned he wished to go along with them. Although William solely knew Cranston’s first identify, authorities had been ready to determine his identification after being offered his cellphone quantity by Byler.

Rebekah’s husband, Andy, additionally informed authorities that he “confronted” a “suspicious individual” matching Cranston’s description — white, bald, with a beard — who confirmed up on the home round 10pm two weeks earlier than the homicide. The person then requested about shopping for their residence; Andy mentioned he believed the person was driving a crimson car.

Different neighbors additionally reported seeing Cranston within the space within the weeks earlier than the homicide.

In line with Fox Information Digital, a search warrant was obtained for Cranston’s residence, car and DNA, citing proof recovered from crime scene which had been a match for objects discovered at his residence.

One merchandise at Cranston’s residence was a pair of Nike AirForce One sneakers, after shoe prints resembling these sneakers had been on the Byers residence — and not one of the Byers owned a pair. The sufferer’s 3-year-old son additionally informed police his mom’s killer was sporting sneakers.

Police additionally discovered a rubber glove that matched the “materials, coloration and grip ridge sample” to what seemed to be a chunk of glove discovered on the homicide scene — and mentioned the tire treads of the crimson Jeep Patriot which Cranston was identified to drive matched marks left on the Byers residence.

Among the many different objects retrieved from the Byler residence by investigators: two shotguns, a rifle, ammo and casings, in addition to a damaged knife blade and deal with, bone-handled knife, white bonnet, empty Mountain Dew bottle, a smoked cigarette and contents from a trash can.

Surveillance footage from throughout the road of his residence additionally confirmed a person who appears to be like like Cranston take away objects from the Jeep to a camper, earlier than beginning a fireplace, on the day of the homicide.

Rebekah Byler was six months pregnant on the time of her homicide. Her throat had been lower and whereas authorities initially famous seeing “a scalping wound to her head,” an post-mortem confirmed it was really a gunshot wound.

Whereas no potential motive has but been revealed by authorities, Cranston’s foster daughter initially prompt the homicide was a case of mistaken identification. A girl who thought-about Cranston her “dad” and is now in her 20s informed JET 24/FOX 66 she could not image him “being that cold-hearted monster.”

“So far as I do know, he simply wished his grandson again,” she mentioned, claiming a distinct Amish household lived in Byler’s residence just a few years in the past and had adopted his grandson.