Man charged in slaying of pregnant Amish woman in Crawford County

SPARTANSBURG, Pa. — A man was arrested Saturday and charged with the slaying of a pregnant Crawford County Amish woman whose body was found Feb. 26.

Shawn C. Cranston, 52, of Corry, Pa., has been charged with criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary and criminal trespass, Pennsylvania State Police said.

He was denied bail at a preliminary arraignment early Saturday morning and is being held at the Crawford County jail. Online court records show a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for March 15.

Mr. Cranston’s arrest comes less than a week after authorities found the body of Rebekah A. Byler, 23, in the living room of her home a few miles from Spartansburg.

Police said she appeared to have cutting wounds to her neck and head.

The killing shocked the rural community in northwestern Pennsylvania, where people say the Amish get along well with their neighbors in the area.

Police began their investigation Feb. 26 after Ms. Byler’s husband, Andy Byler, found her body inside the home shortly after noon.

Trooper Cynthia Schick told The Associated Press on Thursday the investigation and autopsy have given police an idea of what murder weapon may have been used.

Two young Byler children at the home were not harmed, Trooper Schick has said.

The Bylers’ home is located along a dirt road in a very remote farming area.

Residents said the Amish had a longstanding presence in the area and mix well with the surrounding community. Amish and nonAmish visit each other’s homes, and the Amish work jobs for the nonAmish and attend events like fish fries, they said. Neighbors have been raising money to help the Byler family.