Two Jailed In Killing Of Ohio Woman In Shallow Grave

COCHRANTON, Pa. (AP) — Two northwestern Pennsylvania women were jailed on charges they killed an Ohio woman, whose body was found in a shallow grave near their home.

Pennsylvania State Police said 20-year-old Brandy Stevens, of Beaver Township, Ohio, was reported missing Saturday and that troopers went the Cochranton home of the suspects, Ashley Barber, 20, and Jade Olmstead, 18, on Wednesday, where they found Stevens' body in the grave.

Cochranton is about 75 miles north of Pittsburgh and is roughly 50 miles northeast of Stevens' hometown.

Police were releasing few details on how Stevens was killed or a possible motive. The criminal complaints against the Pennsylvania women don't include probable cause affidavits.

Troopers from the Meadville barracks did not immediately comment Thursday, beyond a one-paragraph news release. Police said in the news release that "Barber and Olmstead both admitted to their role in killing the victim and the burying of her body." The state police said they were told that happened May 17.

Barber and Olmstead were arraigned late Wednesday by a district judge and face a preliminary hearing June 1 on charges of criminal homicide, conspiracy and tampering with evidence. A secretary for the district judge said authorities were still attempting to find attorneys for the suspects Thursday, whose hearing will likely be postponed once that occurs.

North Beaver, Ohio, police Lt. Eric Dattilo said officers there were told that Stevens had gone to visit the Pennsylvania women.

Police had listed Stevens as missing and possibly endangered, because she was diabetic and apparently left without her medication.

The Pennsylvania troopers went to the suspects' residence after they learned of the bulletin and found out Stevens was supposed to be visiting. Once there, troopers said they found the shallow grave.

The Crawford County coroner planned an autopsy Thursday afternoon. The district attorney did not immediately return a message.

The criminal complaints said the suspects were charged with tampering with evidence because they allegedly burned the clothes they wore while killing Stevens along with some of the dead woman's belongings

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