State police and Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi, Jr. announced Tuesday that all seven adult defendants who previously were charged with kidnapping a man who later died have now been charged with criminal homicide in the death of Hayden Robert Garreffa on Oct. 20.
Garreffa, 19, was found dead at about 4 a.m. in a remote wooded area in Brush Valley, according to police. He had been reported missing two days prior.
State police Trooper Cliff Greenfield at the time said the teenager was beaten and then stabbed multiple times in his head, neck and upper body.
The seven now charged with homicide are Desean Garcia Alvarez, 19; Isaac Joel Buchkoski, 21; Mia Shai Catalfano, 18; Taylyn Nashell Edwards, 18; Thomas Alan Rivera, 20; Summer Isabella Settlemyer, 18; and Jesse Lee Wadsworth, 18. All are from Johnstown except for Mr. Alvarez, whose address is listed as Hammond, Ind.
District Judge Susanne Steffee has denied bail for all.
“While these individuals are charged with additional crimes today, the investigation is still on-going as to the particular conduct of each defendant,” Mr. Manzi said in a news release. “I appreciate the hard work of the members of the Pennsylvania State Police and know that they will continue to gather the evidence necessary to bring justice for young Hayden.”
The eighth defendant, a 14-year-old female, remains charged as a juvenile with kidnapping and is currently detained in a juvenile detention facility.
Officials had declined to discuss a motive behind the kidnapping and homicide, but the criminal complaint notes that investigators learned Mr. Buchkoski "bore ill will toward the victim due to a prior incident involving the accused's girlfriend."
A witness told police the incident started about 11 a.m. when four people, including Mr. Buchkoski, who is Mr. Garreffa's cousin, arrived at the home in Dilltown where Mr. Garreffa was staying.
According to the criminal complaint, a witness said there was an argument, and Mr. Buchkoski and the others ultimately left.
About 2 p.m., Mr. Buchkoski and "several other individuals" came back to the home and allegedly lured Mr. Garreffa outside, according to investigators, who said Mr. Garreffa was then prompted into a red Chrysler van.
The witness told police that as Mr. Buchkoski was walking out of the home, he told the witness, "You won't have to worry about (Mr. Garreffa) again, because he will be dead before the end of the day," according to the complaint.
First Published: November 8, 2022, 8:21 p.m.