Site last updated: Monday, July 28, 2025
Welcome, GuestSign In

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

Guns, ammo and broken knife parts were found in the home where an Amish woman was slain, police said

This photo provided by the Crawford County Correctional Facility shows Shawn C. Cranston. Police investigating the killing of a pregnant Amish woman inside her Pennsylvania home last week recovered several firearms, bullets and spent casings as well as broken knife parts, according to an inventory made public on Tuesday. The man who lived about 8 miles from the home in northwestern Pennsylvania was charged with criminal homicide, homicide of her unborn child, burglary and criminal trespassing. Police have not disclosed what they think may have motivated Cranston to kill her in the living room, where her husband and a family friend found her. Crawford County Correctional Facility via AP

Police investigating the killing of a pregnant Amish woman inside her Pennsylvania home last week recovered three firearms, bullets and two spent casings as well as broken knife parts, according to an inventory made public on Tuesday.

The state police document said the search of the house where Rebekah A. Byler was killed on Feb. 26 produced the broken orange handle of a knife, a broken knife blade and a bone-handled knife. Investigators also took a white bonnet and the contents of an ashtray, trash can and dust bin.

A man who lived about 8 miles from the Byler home in northwestern Pennsylvania was charged Saturday with criminal homicide, homicide of her unborn child, burglary and criminal trespassing. Police have not disclosed what they think may have motivated Shawn C. Cranston, 52, to kill her in the living room, where her husband and a family friend found her.

It's unclear from the search inventory if any of the items taken belonged to Cranston or were used in the killing, which police have said involved “shooting her in the head and/or slashing her throat.” They include a .22-caliber rifle, two shotguns and a variety of ammunition. Investigators also recovered a .22-caliber cartridge case and a 6.5 Creedmoor casing, both discharged.

More in Pennsylvania News

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS