Death penalty sought in student homicide
PITTSBURGH — Prosecutors in Allegheny County are seeking the death penalty against a former Cranberry Township man in the homicide of a University of Pittsburgh student in her off-campus apartment last year.
Matthew Darby, 21, formerly of Cranberry but most recently from Greensburg, was formally arraigned Friday in Allegheny County Court on charges of homicide, felony burglary, flight to avoid apprehension, misdemeanor theft, trespassing and possession of an instrument of crime.
Authorities allege that Darby broke into the Oakland apartment of 20-year-old Alina Sheykhet, his ex-girlfriend, before beating her and then using a claw hammer and two knives to kill her on Oct. 8.
He then allegedly fled, before being captured in Myrtle Beach, S.C., after a witness reported seeing him tampering with a window at a residence three days after Sheykhet's slaying.
On Thursday an affidavit of aggravating circumstances — the first step in seeking capital punishment — was filed by the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office.
The aggravating circumstances cited by prosecutors states that the murder occurred to prevent Sheykhet from testifying about the break-in and while other felonies were being committed, with Darby breaking into Sheykhet's apartment and stealing her cell phone; Darby's previous criminal history, which includes allegations that he raped two people in Indiana County in February 2017; and he violated a protection from abuse order that police said Sheykhet had filed against him.
That PFA order stemmed from a break-in on Sept. 20. Darby is facing a count of felony trespass in that case. Sheykhet wrote in her protection order that Darby climbed up the gutter and broke into a second-floor window because she left him and stopped answering his phone calls.
A judge bound the charges over for trial on Jan. 19, after a hearing where prosecutors presented evidence they say linked Darby, a Seneca Valley High School graduate, to the slaying.
Defense attorney David Shrager argued that prosecutors had only presented circumstantial evidence against his client.
Darby continues to be detained after bail was denied.
A pretrial conference is scheduled for March 9 before Allegheny County Court President Judge Jeffrey Manning.
