A preliminary hearing for a Butler Township man accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend and burning her body has been delayed to allow his attorney more time to prepare his case.

Ishemer D. Ramsey, 21, of Lyndora appeared before District Judge William Fullerton in the Butler County courthouse for a hearing Thursday morning.

Moments earlier, one of Ramsey's co-defendants, James E. Howard-George, 23, of Butler, also made a brief, separate appearance. But Howard-George promptly gave up his right to a hearing and waived his case to court. That decision was not lost on Ramsey's attorney, Blaine Jones of Pittsburgh.

“I think it's an extremely telltale sign of what's down the road for Mr. Ramsey,” Jones said outside the courtroom following the proceedings. “You just don't waive a homicide case without something being on the other side.”

Jones said he believes Howard-George will become a prosecution witness.

And Ramsey's counsel vowed to be ready — with more preparation time — to confront his client's co-defendant.

“We'll be prepped up and ready to cross-examine Mr. Howard-George,” Jones said. “As I always say in a co-defendant case, everyone is on their own island. We will make sure that our island is protected, and we will attack the other islands.”

A second co-defendant, Joshua W. Bowser, 22, of Lyndora, did not appear in court. Instead, his attorney previously requested his hearing be continued, too.

All three defendants remain in the Butler County Prison. Ramsey and Howard-George are being held without bail. Bowser is being held on $100,000 bail.

The defendants are charged in connection with the June 8 death of Melissa Barto, 26, of Butler.

State police in court papers allege Ramsey shot Barto three times in the head during an argument in the defendant's car. He apparently suspected she was cheating on him.

An autopsy ruled she died of a gunshot wound to the left side of the head, police Lt. Eric Hermick revealed Thursday. It appeared she had at least one other gunshot wound.

Ramsey solicited Howard-George and Bowser to help him cover up the crime, investigators said.

Howard-George, during an interview with police, admitted he accompanied Ramsey to a local car wash where Ramsey removed the passenger seat and cut out the carpet on the front passenger floor, and used bleach to clean the inside of the vehicle.

They also went to a local store, according to Howard-George's account, and bought several items including a tarp that police believe was used to wrap Barto's body.

Bowser is accused of loaning his car to Ramsey to transport the body out of Butler County.

Ramsey and Howard-George eventually drove that car to a remote part of northern Lawrence County where they used lighter fluid to ignite the body, police said.

Barto was first reported missing by her family June 9 after she didn't show up for her 6-year-old daughter's kindergarten graduation the prior evening.

Police arrested Ramsey on June 11, charging him with homicide and tampering with evidence. They did not recover Barto's body until the following day.

During Thursday's court proceedings, prosecutors filed additional charges against Ramsey including abuse of a corpse and hindering apprehension or prosecution.

Three additional new charges include conspiracy to commit the crimes of homicide, abuse of a corpse and hindering apprehension.

On June 13, police arrested Howard-George and Bowser. Howard-George is charged with conspiracy to commit homicide, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Bowser is charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution.

Police on Wednesday arrested a fourth defendant, Justin M. Johnson, 19, of Butler, in the ongoing investigation. At least one other person could be charged, Hermick said.

Authorities say Johnson provided investigators a false alibi for Ramsey, following the homicide suspect's arrest. Johnson is charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution and false reports to law enforcement authorities. He is in the county prison on $100,000 bail.

District Attorney Richard Goldinger, in response to the assertions by Ramsey's attorney, denied his office has made any deal for Howard-George's testimony against Ramsey.

He acknowledged that Howard-George has cooperated in the investigation.

“He confessed to almost everything,” Goldinger said. “All you have to do to know that is to look at the (criminal) complaint.”

Butler County Chief Public Defender Kevin Flaherty, whose office is representing Howard-George, would not discuss any defense strategy. He would only say, “It appears (Howard-George) is cooperating.”

Goldinger also would not speculate on whether his office would seek a plea deal with Howard-George.

He said that while Howard-George has provided valuable information to investigators, police have collected other “corroborating evidence.” He added that forensic test results are also pending.

Jones said he has met with Ramsey once at the county prison. A colleague at his law firm had another separate meeting with the defendant. “He has adamantly denied killing (Barto),” Jones said. “It's my understanding that he cared deeply for this young lady. He's in a lot of pain.

“It's a heartbreaking situation and my heart goes out to the family, but I have a job to do.”

New preliminary hearing dates for Ramsey and Bowser are set for Aug. 1.

Johnson's hearing is set for June 29 at the office of District Judge Kevin O'Donnell in Butler Township.