Juvenile now charged as adult in Somerset County homicide

A 14-year-old previously charged as a juvenile in connection with the kidnapping and killing of a man in Somerset County has now been charged as an adult.

State police and Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi Jr. announced Tuesday that Harmony Rhyne Hayward, 14, of Johnstown, has been formally charged with criminal homicide stemming from the Oct. 20 death of Hayden Robert Garreffa.

Ms. Hayward, who was originally charged as a juvenile, is now charged as an adult in this case. She remains incarcerated in a juvenile detention facility and is awaiting her preliminary arraignment.

Seven other people have also been charged with homicide.

Garreffa, 19, was found dead at about 4 a.m. in a remote wooded area in Brush Valley, according to police. He had been reported missing two days prior.

State police Trooper Cliff Greenfield at the time said the teenager was beaten and then stabbed multiple times in his head, neck and upper body.

The seven previously charged with homicide are Desean Garcia Alvarez, 19; Isaac Joel Buchkoski, 21; Mia Shai Catalfano, 18; Taylyn Nashell Edwards, 18; Thomas Alan Rivera, 20; Summer Isabella Settlemyer, 18; and Jesse Lee Wadsworth, 18. All are from Johnstown except for Mr. Alvarez, whose address is listed as Hammond, Ind.

Officials had declined to discuss a motive behind the kidnapping and homicide, but the criminal complaint notes that investigators learned Mr. Buchkoski “bore ill will toward the victim due to a prior incident involving the accused’s girlfriend.”