Man Accused of Killing Pregnant Amish Woman Exhibited ‘Very Odd’ Behavior Before Murder

Over the weekend, new court docket 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 house by husband Andy Byler — have 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, have been house on the time of the homicide. Cranston was arrested days later and charged with legal murder, legal murder of her unborn little one, housebreaking and legal trespassing.

By means of interviews with neighbors, by way of Penn Reside, 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 infrequently rent drivers, and Cranston started working for the household after filling in for his son, who drove for them beforehand. In response to the docs, William shared the household had “very odd experiences” with Cranston from December 2023 via 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 stated he had “an uneasy feeling” in regards to the suspect.

He additionally allegedly requested the household the place they attended church and stated he needed to go along with them. Although William solely knew Cranston’s first identify, authorities have been in a position to determine his identification after being offered his telephone quantity by Byler.

Rebekah’s husband, Andy, additionally informed authorities that he “confronted” a “suspicious particular person” 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 house; Andy stated 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 response to Fox Information Digital, a search warrant was obtained for Cranston’s house, car and DNA, citing proof recovered from crime scene which have been a match for gadgets discovered at his residence.

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

Police additionally discovered a rubber glove that matched the “materials, shade and grip ridge sample” to what gave the impression to be a chunk of glove discovered on the homicide scene — and stated the tire treads of the crimson Jeep Patriot which Cranston was recognized to drive matched marks left on the Byers house.

Among the many different gadgets retrieved from the Byler house 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 house additionally confirmed a person who appears like Cranston take away gadgets 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 truly 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 of 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 needed his grandson again,” she stated, claiming a special Amish household lived in Byler’s house just a few years in the past and had adopted his grandson.