Man charged in mother's homicide after crashing her stolen car on Route 28
TARENTUM (KDKA) - State police have charged a man in his mother's death after he crashed her stolen vehicle overnight on Route 28.
Shane McDevitt, 36, of New Castle, is charged with criminal homicide. He was arraigned Wednesday afternoon and KDKA-TV was there when he was walked in by law enforcement.
"I'm sorry to everyone," McDevitt said, adding that he was sorry for "being alive."
McDevitt was arrested around 2:30 a.m. after a high-speed chase and crash in his mother's car, which police reported missing Tuesday afternoon. It all came to an end near the Pittsburgh Mills mall exit and McDevitt was taken into custody. He had an outstanding warrant on theft charges, police said.
His mother, 65-year-old Cecelia Liposky, was found dead in a home on Mercer Road in Neshannock Township on Tuesday. According to the criminal complaint, police got a call from the victim's daughter asking for a welfare check.
When officers arrived, they found Liposky lying in a pool of blood. The coroner said she died of blunt force trauma to the head. When detectives interviewed McDevitt, he confessed to killing his mom by hitting her in the head with a round piece of glass and a hammer.
"I cannot imagine, I cannot imagine, I cannot imagine," neighbor Shirley Hardie said.
Neighbors said they are not surprised that her son was charged.
"He was in prison before, and he was in trouble," Rosalie Gabriel said.
KDKA-TV learned McDevitt spent time in prison for robbery and drugs.
Neighbors said Liposky worked tirelessly with people recovering from addiction.
"I know that she was helping a lot with recovery, with people with drug problems," Gabriel said. "And that's what was sad too, that she was trying to help people."
McDevitt is also charged with possessing instruments of crime. His bail was denied. His preliminary hearing is set for May 18.
