Domestic disturbance suspect found dead in drainage tunnel in Moon Township, police said
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A man facing charges in connection with a domestic disturbance in Moon Township was found dead in a sewer tunnel, Allegheny County police said.
The suspect was found dead Wednesday night in a drainage tunnel in a wooded area along University Boulevard after running from police. The medical examiner identified him as 35-year-old Panayioti Rauseo.
Officers were first called to the area hours earlier for a reported domestic disturbance overnight on Fern Hollow Road, investigators said. When officers arrived around 1:30 a.m., they found the victim's ex-boyfriend had left the home.
Rauseo returned around 3:45 a.m., but police said he took off in his car when he saw Moon Township officers still at the victim's home.
A search of the area turned up his vehicle on Randy Lane. However, police said the suspect was not inside.
"I didn't really know anything about it. I thought maybe something was up. Every so often someone will be coming through here flashing lights. I didn't think anything of it," Dan Hellhake said about the police investigation near his house.
An arrest warrant was put out for Rauseo charging him with harassment, police said. According to court records, Rauseo was also facing stalking charges in this incident.
After a 14-hour search of the area, Moon Township police found him dead in the tunnel around 9 p.m. Investigators said he likely fell from a steep embankment above University Boulevard after abandoning his car and was able to get to the tunnel before dying.
"It's pretty steep. If you're running around that time of night in the dark, no telling what could happen," Hallhake said.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office has joined the investigation.
Rauseo also had other past allegations, but those charges were all withdrawn. In this incident, the Moon police chief said there were no injuries to the victim.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Allegheny County police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477).
