Woman pleads guilty to killing McKees Rocks man
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A McKees Rocks woman will serve at least 10 years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to killing a man she said had tried to sexually assault her.
Sheila Wagner, 45, pleaded before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski to third-degree murder, conspiracy, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse in the February death of RonaldPeless. A co-defendant, Robert Davies, 50, pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and was ordered to serve 11½ to 23 months in the Allegheny County Jail.
Assistant district attorney Chelsie Pratt said Wagner and Davies had been staying at Peless’ apartment on Vine Streetin McKees Rocks.
Early Feb. 2, Wagner called her boyfriend, Jeffrey Tyniec, 50, and told him that the night before, Peless had tried to sexually assault her. She told Mr. Tyniec that Davies had struck Pelesswith an iron to try to defend her, and she then cut him with a box cutter, Ms. Pratt said.
Mr. Tyniec helped Wagner and Davies wrap Peless’ body in blankets and comforters. The body was not found until Feb. 16, after Peless’ family asked police to check on his well-being.
Mr. Tyniec was charged with abuse of a corpse. His trial is scheduled for Nov. 15.
Wagner’s attorney, Chris Rand Eyster, told Judge Borkowski that his client has post-traumatic stress disorder and is bipolar.
Judge Borkowski ordered Wagner to serve at least 10 and up to 30 years in prison. always approve the recommendation. And although winning the 18th District is viewed as a tough climb for Democrats, party leaders say there is considerable interest in the choice they make.
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The party locked out additions to the committee on Oct. 23, when Gov. Tom Wolf set the date for the special election, and Ms. Petroskey said, “I won’t stock the committee with one candidate’s people or another. We want people who are on the committee for the long haul.”
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