Arrest made in Latrobe apartment murder, police say
An arrest has been made in the killing of a Latrobe woman who was found dead inside her apartment over the weekend.
Latrobe Police Chief Richard Bosco said Wednesday the department had taken Glenn Whittier, 54, into custody after Pamela Sue Puskar, 59, of Latrobe, was found dead in the Loyalhanna Apartments complex at 1111 Jefferson Street early Sunday morning.
When police opened the investigation, they said Puskar's death was considered suspicious, and her death was later ruled a homicide after forensic pathologist Dr. Jennifer Hammers determined Puskar suffered multiple stab wounds, per a media release from the Westmoreland County District Attorney's office.
Investigators believe Puskar was killed in the early hours of Saturday morning. Surveillance video shows Whittier leaving the Loyalhanna Apartments at approximately 7 a.m. on Saturday, according to investigators.
According to police paperwork, a man who lives at the apartment complex told police that Whittier was visiting him on Friday night.
"Around midnight, or thereafter, Pamela Puskar came to the apartment to check in on him, something she did with regularity. (The witness) stated Whittier and Puskar left together and didn't return to his apartment," police said.
The witness told police the two had left to go to Puskar's apartment for cigarettes.
That man called Puskar's phone nearly three hours after they left and told police that Whittier answered instead and told him that they were drinking inside Puskar's apartment and about to engage in a sexual act.
According to police paperwork, the witness told police that he heard Puskar in the background say, "You're not touching me."
The man tried calling Puskar's phone multiple times after that last conversation, but never heard back from her.
Police were called to Puskar's apartment on Sunday morning, where they found her lying on the floor of the kitchen. Police said her clothing was covered in blood, and a knife was found underneath her body.
Officials released a surveillance photograph of a "person of interest" connected with the homicide investigation.
On Wednesday, Whittier was taken into custody.
During an interview with police, Whittier allegedly denied it was him in the surveillance video, but then allegedly told officers that Puskar gave him her sweatshirt before he left.
He also allegedly admitted to officers to handling a knife or knives during his time inside Puskar's apartment.
Whittier is facing criminal homicide and tampering with evidence charges in Puskar's death. He was arraigned on Wednesday and denied bail.
As he was escorted from the police station to the magistrate's office, Puskar told reporters that he was innocent.
When asked what he was doing at Puskar's apartment, Whittier had no comment but later said the two had just met and were friends.
Police are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information or surveillance video related to the investigation is urged to contact the Westmoreland County Detective Bureau at 724-830-3287.