Officials: Murder Suspect Lights Self On Fire After Stabbing, Repeatedly Running Over Woman In Whitemarsh Township
Follow CBSPHILLY Facebook Twitter
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa. (CBS) -- Authorities say a suspect lit himself on fire after brutally killing a woman in Whitemarsh Township early Friday morning.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele says 33-year-old Lawrence Crawley, of Philadelphia, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 33-year-old Angela Stith, of Philadelphia.
Whitemarsh Township police say they responded to Vector Security on the 5100 block of Campus Drive for a reported stabbing around 2:30 a.m.
According to officials, Crawley began assaulting Stith after she got into his truck. She was able to get out and run, but authorities say Crawley caught up to her and continued beating and stabbing her.
Officials say that Crawley stabbed Stith to the point where the knife broke off in her back.
Vector Security employees tried to stop Crawley during the incident. Authorities say he stopped briefly, and Stith was able to call 911, but then the suspect repeatedly ran her over with his Chevrolet Avalanche SUV. The DA says the attack was caught on surveillance video.
"The defendant got in a Chevy Avalanche, a vehicle that is approximately three tons, and he drove the car over top of her, again and again and again, and crushed her," said Steele.
Guinness Opens Brewery In US For First Time In More Than 60 Years
Authorities believe the suspect and the victim were in a relationship, but had broken up.
Police say Crawley was located driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Somerset County when he lit himself on fire.
Pennsylvania State Police troopers were able to put the fire out and transport him to a local hospital. He is in critical but stable condition.
Whitemarsh police say this is the first murder in 17 years for them.
