NEW CASTLE — A 36-year-old New Castle man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the shotgun killing of his girlfriend.

Dennis Reed was convicted in the Dec. 16, 2001, killing of 28-year-old Wendy Miller. She disappeared two days after getting a restraining order against Reed. Her body was found days later in a remote area. That same day, police in Butler County arrested Reed after finding him in Miller's car with her three young children.

He also was convicted Thursday of kidnapping Miller's children. Reed's attorney argued the children went willingly and that no one saw what happened to Miller.

Jurors now have to determine whether Reed should be executed or serve life in prison.

ERIE — A pipe bomb found early Thursday on the courthouse steps was blown up by a bomb squad.No one was injured and no damage was caused by the controlled explosion.Erie County Sheriff Bob Merski said the device had the "makings of a pipe bomb." It contained gunpowder and other substances and had what appeared to be a fuse, he said.The bomb squad was called in after a courthouse employee and a security guard determined before 8 a.m. that the pipe looked like it could be explosive.Merski said Thursday afternoon that the device was being analyzed. The FBI and an antiterrorism task force were involved in the investigation.Police did not have any immediate suspects, Merski said.

PITTSBURGH — A teenager arrested in the death of a 12-year-old girl — killed when gunshots ripped through a relative's house — tried to flee the city with his father's help, police said.Michael Gist, 15, was found hiding in a motel, part of an effort by his father to sneak him away to the Philadelphia area, police said. The father was jailed on a charge of hindering apprehension.Jolesa Barber was killed and her mother, Kim Wade, 42, was wounded Monday when gunmen fired at least 40 rounds into the house the two were visiting. Authorities believe the shooting was part of a gang-related neighborhood dispute and that both victims were innocent bystanders.Police apprehended the father, Michael Franklin, 53, of Greensburg, and traced the boy to the Knights Inn near Greensburg based on a sheet of paper in Franklin's pocket, police said. Authorities believe Franklin was trying to move his son to avoid prosecution, Assistant Police Chief Paul Donaldson said.Anthony Wilson, 30, of Pittsburgh, was arrested Tuesday in the shooting. A witness said he used an assault rifle to fire into the house, police said. The boy is alleged to have used a 9 mm handgun.