Pennsylvania Man Charged with the Murder of Pregnant Amish Woman, 23, Who Was Found Dead in Her Home

Shawn Cranston, 52, was charged with the murder of Rebekah A. Byler on March 2

A suspect has been arrested in the murder of a 23-year-old pregnant Amish woman.

According to a criminal complaint from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania that was obtained by PEOPLE, Shawn Cranston from Corry, Pennsylvania, was arrested on March 2 by Crawford County police in relation to the murder of Rebekah A. Byler.

Cranston, 52, has been charged with criminal homicide after Byler was found dead on Monday inside her home in Pennsylvania’s Sparta Township. He allegedly killed the expectant mother by “shooting her in the head and/or slashing her throat,” the court documents state.

The victim was six months pregnant with her third child at the time of her death, ABC 6 reported.

Cranston was also charged with the homicide of Byler's unborn child and faces life sentences for each crime. He is also accused of burglary and bodily injury crime, for which he could face a 20–year sentence, and trespassing, for which he could receive a 7-year sentence, per the court documents.

Related: A Pregnant Amish Woman Was Found Dead in Her Pa. Home, and Police Suspect Homicide

According to the Erie Times-News, this is thought to be the first homicide within this Amish community in the state since 1993.

The outlet reported that Byler was found dead by a family member and a friend shortly after 12:30 p.m. local time when she had been taking care of her two young children at home that same day. The children who were home at the time were not injured.

Byler’s husband is said to have discovered her body inside the family’s home, according to ABC 6.

Pennsylvania State Police previously told the outlet that authorities were “aggressively investigating all available leads” ahead of Cranston's arrest.

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Spartanburg resident Randy Eaton shared his reaction to the homicides with ABC 6. “It’s definitely shameful that anything like this could go on here. Everyone’s surprised," he said.

Charleen Hajec, a neighbor in nearby Spartansburg, told the outlet that the killing of Byler was “very shocking” to the local community.

“We’re just a very tight-knit community and I’m just absolutely heartbroken that this has happened,” she said.

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