Shawn Cranston allegedly labored as a driver for an Amish neighbor of the Byler household — whereas the sufferer’s husband says he “confronted” somebody matching the suspect’s description on his property simply weeks earlier than the homicide.

Over the weekend, new courtroom 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 dwelling 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 youngsters, ages 2 and three, have been dwelling on the time of the homicide. Cranston was arrested days later and charged with felony murder, felony murder of her unborn little one, housebreaking and felony trespassing.

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Via interviews with neighbors, through Penn Stay, authorities discovered Cranston labored as a driver for a person, William Byler, who lived a few 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 line with the docs, William shared the household had “very odd experiences” with Cranston from December 2023 by way of mid-February 2024 — saying he would “randomly present up at their residence,” typically strolling “aimlessly” across the property in all black garments and carrying a gun. “His speech made no sense,” said the docs, whereas William stated he had “an uneasy feeling” concerning the suspect.

He additionally allegedly requested the household the place they attended church and stated he needed to go together with them. Although William solely knew Cranston’s first identify, authorities have been ready to determine his id after being offered his cellphone 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 dwelling; Andy stated he believed the person was driving a purple car.

Different neighbors additionally reported seeing Cranston within the space within the weeks earlier than the homicide.

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In line with Fox Information Digital, a search warrant was obtained for Cranston’s dwelling, car and DNA, citing proof recovered from crime scene which have been a match for objects discovered at his residence.

One merchandise at Cranston’s dwelling was a pair of Nike AirForce One sneakers, after shoe prints resembling these sneakers have been on the Byers dwelling — 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, coloration and grip ridge sample” to what seemed to be a chunk of glove discovered on the homicide scene — and stated the tire treads of the purple Jeep Patriot which Cranston was recognized to drive matched marks left on the Byers dwelling.

Among the many different objects retrieved from the Byler dwelling 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 dwelling additionally confirmed a person who seems to be like Cranston take away objects from the Jeep to a camper, earlier than beginning a hearth, on the day of the homicide.

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Rebekah Byler was six months pregnant on the time of her homicide. Her throat had been minimize and whereas authorities initially famous seeing “a scalping wound to her head,” an post-mortem confirmed it was really a gunshot wound.

Whereas no potential motive has but been revealed by authorities, Cranston’s foster daughter initially advised the homicide was a case of mistaken id. 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 dwelling a couple of years in the past and had adopted his grandson.

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