State police ID murder victim Man with gunshot wound found in car
State police have identified the man they said was found murdered Monday in Muddy Creek Township.
The body of David A. Hines, 38, of New Castle, was found in his vehicle along Portersville Road near Route 422 and Interstate 79, according to a state police report.
State police said they were dispatched to the scene around 5 p.m. Monday in an area of East Portersville Road, where an SUV was found just off the road.
The vehicle was down a small embankment along the entrance of a mining facility, where police said they found a man with a fatal gunshot wound.
A witness, who passed the vehicle, told the Butler Eagle that said they stopped to see if someone was injured in an accident. The witness said Tuesday they saw the body in the passenger seat with the seat belt still on and a gunshot wound to the face.
According to the witness, there were also bloody paper towels strewn about outside the vehicle and a trail of blood leading away from the vehicle. They said the sound system was still playing music.
“The car was still in drive,” the witness said. “It was wedged into the hillside.”
According to state police, Hines was last seen Monday afternoon in New Castle.
“This incident remains under investigation,” state police said. “Through the investigation, it is believed this is an isolated event, and there is no public safety concern at this time.”
Anyone with information about the murder is asked to call state police at the Butler barracks at 724-284-8100 and speak with Trooper Jennifer Cantella, or anonymously contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477).
Police said all callers to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest, the solving of a case or the location of a wanted or missing person.
Tracy Leturgey, Butler Eagle digital editor, contributed to this report.
