Trial begins for man accused of murdering pregnant Amish woman
Shawn Cranston, 53, of Corry, is facing charges of criminal homicide for the death of both 23-year-old Rebekah Byler and her unborn baby.
According to court paperwork, the trial of 53-year-old Shawn Cranston was delayed after it was expected to start in March, citing new information in the case.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office will be prosecuting the case at the Crawford County courthouse.
Monday, we heard testimony from Andy Byler, Rebecca's husband, along with the first trooper on scene and a forensic state trooper. During opening statements, we also learned a possible motive of burglary.
Andy Blyer testified that when he came home from work on February 26, 2024, his two children, ages 2 and 3 came running out outside to tell him someone had killed their mom.
Andy said he didn't believe them… until he walked up to the door and saw Rebecca's white hat on the floor next to her legs.
The jury was then shown a crime scene photo of Rebecca on the floor. Those photos were not shown to the courtroom .
Andy said that after discovering Rebecca's body, his driver, Julie, stayed with his kids while he drove Julie's truck to the neighbors to tell them what happened. He then drove back to his house and stayed in the driveway until state police arrived. He never went inside his house.
Andy was then asked about a strange incident. He said two weeks before Rebecca's murder, someone came to the house around 10 or 11 o'clock at night. Andy said he got out of bed and went to the door with a flashlight and saw a white man with a bald head and beard walking up to the door. The man said he wanted to buy the Byler's house, but he'd be back the next day. He never came back.
When asked if that person was in the courtroom, Andy said, 'I think he's sitting over there,' referring to 53-year-old Shawn Cranston.
Andy told the court that after the murder, he noticed his safe was missing from the house.
The first Trooper on the scene told the jury about walking into the Bylers' home and finding Rebecca on her back, with a large laceration to her throat, a wound near her hairline and her head in a pool of blood.
The Forensic Trooper testified about finding Rebecca's body in the living room area with a bullet hole in her left temple and a suspected knife wound to the neck.
He also testified about other evidence, like shoe prints and tire impressions found at the crime scene, along with a small piece of a latex glove found in the Byler's trash.
Tuesday, Julie Warner, Andy Byler's driver, is expected to take the witness stand. We're being told the jury will hear the recording of the 911 call she made to report Rebecca's murder.
Related Stories:
Trial for man accused of killing pregnant Amish woman pushed to 2025
2024 Amish murder case transferred to Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office
New information takes center stage in Rebekah Byler murder trial
Daughter of arrested suspect reacts to pregnant Amish woman murder case
List of seized items released in pregnant Amish woman homicide case
Murdered Amish woman suffered injuries to head, neck: investigators
Community remains in shock following Amish woman's death, Corry man's arrest
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