Matthew Darby, the defendant in the slaying last month of University of Pittsburgh student Alina Sheykhet, has returned to Allegheny County after being extradited from South Carolina, where he has been held in jail for the past three weeks.
County spokeswoman Amie Downs confirmed late Friday afternoon that Mr. Darby entered the Allegheny County Jail around 2 p.m.
Earlier in the day, Kevin Kraus, chief deputy for the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, said, “We are flying him back today,” but he declined to release further information about Mr. Darby’s escort or itinerary.
Mr. Darby, 21, of Greensburg, is accused of killing Ms. Sheykhet, 20, his ex-girlfriend, in her Oakland apartment on Cable Place on Oct. 8. Police recovered a claw hammer and two knives they believe were used in the slaying.
Mr. Darby was arrested Oct. 11 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. when a resident spotted him pulling on windows in an apartment complex, police said. He pleaded guilty to giving false information to a law enforcement officer and loitering.
David Shrager, Mr. Darby’s lawyer in Pittsburgh, said he was aware that his client was being returned to Pittsburgh but did not have details.
“The important part is that I will be able to visit with him shortly and give his side of the story for the first time and be able to formulate an appropriate defense based on the facts and the evidence,” Mr. Shrager said.
He said he hoped to meet with Mr. Darby some time over the next few days. He said he had been in contact with his client while he was in custody in South Carolina.
“I have been able to speak with him,” Mr. Shrager said. “However, these have been only in regards to very general matters” because Mr. Shrager did not want to discuss details of the case over the phone.
At the time of her death, Ms. Sheykhet had a restraining order against Mr. Darby, who had been charged by Pittsburgh police with criminal trespass for climbing up a gutter and breaking into her apartment.
He is also facing rape charges in Indiana County and Elizabeth.
Jonathan D. Silver: jsilver@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1962 or on Twitter @jsilverpg.
First Published: November 3, 2017, 5:45 p.m.
Updated: November 3, 2017, 8:12 p.m.
