Arrest Made After Remains Of Missing Dravosburg Woman Found
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The remains of a missing woman from Dravosburg were located on Wednesday morning and a man was arrested in connection with her murder, the police announced on Wednesday night.
The missing woman was identified as 46-year-old Heather Short. She was last seen in November.
Allegheny County Homicide Detectives said that Short was killed inside a home in West Mifflin. After being killed, her body was loaded into her vehicle and dumped in a wooded area near the Allegheny and Westmoreland County lines.
On Wednesday morning, detectives located the skeletal remains of Short along Scott Haven Road in Sewickley Township, Westmoreland County.
Detectives identified 36-year-old Dale Cooper as the person responsible for the death of Short.
KDKA's Kym Gable Reports:
According to the criminal complaint, Cooper was concerned Short was going to tell a drug dealer that Cooper had robbed him of money and crack cocaine.
Police say Cooper is accused of beating Short, then wrapped an extension cord around her neck, took off her clothes, wrapped her in plastic and doused her in bleach. He alleged used straps to secure the plastic and drove the body to the wooded area in Sewickley Township.
Cooper was arrested in Homestead just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday by Allegheny County Police with the assistance of Homestead and Munhall Police.
Cooper was arraigned overnight on charges of criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence. He is now being held in the Allegheny County Jail.
He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for next week.