Jury Selection To Begin In Hopewell Home Invasion Case

BEAVER (AP) - Jury selection is set to begin in the death penalty trial of two stepbrothers charged with killing an 82-year-old man who died after they allegedly bound him and beat him with a baseball bat while robbing his home.

Daniel Santia died weeks after he was released from the hospital and taken to a rehab facility following the April 29, 2012, break-in at his Hopewell Township home.

Joseph Arlott, 26, and Beau Chermer, 23, both of McKees Rocks, were due in Beaver County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday.

They're charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery and face the death penalty if the jury determines Santia's death was the result of first-degree murder, a premeditated killing with malice.

The defense has argued Santia's injuries were superficial, and that he died of unrelated health issues.

Beaver County