Bright admits funeral funds spent on car

John Bright, the man who bought a car with money donated to help bury his murdered daughter, said Thursday he did it for his children.

Meanwhile, a family friend said Bright has been distraught since the Westmoreland County Children's Bureau took custody of the two remaining Bright children.

After spending his day dodging telephone calls from reporters following up reports that the Westmoreland County District Attorney would investigate his use of the money, Bright finally made a public statement after he was confronted by television cameras.

'I'm sorry I had to take this money and buy this car with it, but I had no choice,' he said, admitting that he used $3,000 from the fund to buy the charcoal gray 1997 Buick Century station wagon.

But the Monessen man said he had to spend the money if he had any hope of seeing his children, currently in foster care.

'I had no choice,' Bright said, 'I was backed against the wall. I have to be there for my kids one way or another.'

Bright's 8-year-old daughter, Annette, was shot to death July 15 and buried in a makeshift grave in Rostraver Township. Police have charged family friend Charles Koschalk, 34, of 412 Third St., Monessen, with the crime.

Koschalk allegedly had a romantic relationship with Annette's older sister, Marcia, 12. At the time of Annette's death, Koschalk was on probation for a corruption of minors charge involving Marcia Bright.

Last week the Westmoreland County Children's Bureau removed Marcia and her brother, John Bright Jr., 7, from the home of John and Annette Mae Bright. A hearing regarding custody was postponed until the Brights could retain a lawyer.

Bright told reporters he could have purchased a cheaper car with his own money but said it wouldn't have been as reliable.

'I need a way back and forth for my kids,' he said. 'Everything I'm doing is for my kids.'

After their daughter's death, the Brights and family friend Margaret Hill of Monessen set up a fund for donations to help pay for Annette's burial. After $3,000 was paid to the funeral home, an estimated $5,000 was left. A fund was set up to benefit musical education at Monessen High School.

But the account was quickly closed when the Brights withdrew the money. Shortly afterward the used car appeared at their home. Bright told neighbors he used $3,000 of the remaining $5,000 of the burial funds to buy it.

According to Terry Halinka of Monessen, a Bright family friend who has spoken before on their behalf, Bright had only his children in mind.

'John had a hard time deciding' what to do with the money, she said.

In addition, Bright had said the family car he had been driving was registered in Koschalk's name for a lower insurance rate.

'He had a hard time knowing he was using Charles Koschalk's car,' Halinka said. 'He needed reliable transportation ... so he could have visitations.

'He was tired of everyone talking about Koschalk's car,' she said.

Halinka also insists the bank told the Brights the withdrawal was all right.

'The bank told him it was his money, that they had every right to take it and spend it,' she said.

The manager at the First Federal Savings Bank of Monessen branch where the memorial fund was set up said yesterday she could not discuss the account because of privacy laws.

Halinka and Bright both said Hill and Pastor Terry Davis of the Newness of Life Ministries, the church where Annette's funeral service was held, encouraged Bright into a quick decision, which included the music scholarship and donations to the church.

A Department of State spokesman said charities that collect less than $25,000 aren't required to register with the department; however, they are bound by the same laws.