Estate seeks divorce decree for slain dentist

An Indiana County judge was asked Thursday to allow a dead man to be divorced -- a case that is believed to be the first of its kind in Pennsylvania.

Common Pleas Judge Carol Hanna took under advisement a petition from the estate of murdered Blairsville dentist Dr. John Yelenic.

Yelenic's attorney, Effie Alexander, and the attorney of his estate, Paul Bell, asked the judge to issue a decree finalizing Yelenic's divorce from his estranged wife, Michele.

Yelenic, 39, was found murdered April 13 in his Blairsville home. Police have not made an arrest or named a suspect and have released few details.

"I believe this would be the first (in Pennsylvania)," Alexander said of the divorce action. "This whole case has been like a law school exam with the number of unlikely facts that have had to be addressed."

Hanna approved a marriage settlement agreement the couple had signed days before Yelenic's death after four months of negotiations. The couple had been separated for more than two years and the split was bitter, according to legal documents and acquaintances.

Under the agreement that Michele Yelenic signed April 7 and John Yelenic signed April 8, she is to receive a reduction in monthly child support payments from $3,875 to $1,337. Yelenic agreed to pay his wife more than $54,000 for her share of several properties the couple jointly owned, as well as a portion of his dental practice.

Michele Yelenic, who now lives near Indiana, also was to receive more than $38,000 from an annuity they held, while her husband agreed to pay for her White Township home and their son's medical expenses and schooling.

Alexander testified during the hearing that a few weeks before the divorce agreement was to be finalized it appeared Michele Yelenic "would not sign the agreement, as agreed."

Alexander said Hanna scheduled yesterday's hearing two months ago after Alexander petitioned the judge to enforce the terms of the agreement.

Michele Yelenic's attorney, Daniel Lovette, told Hanna that his client wasn't backing out of the agreed-upon division of assets, but she was concerned about a "few economic factors."

Alexander said she was "personally" disappointed Hanna did not rule in favor of her request to formally approve the divorce, but said she understands Hanna's legal dilemma.

"John was looking forward to this day. He would have wanted this (divorce decree)," said Maryanne Clark, John Yelenic's cousin, who was appointed as executrix of his estate yesterday in Orphan's Court.

Hanna gave Alexander, Bell and Lovette two weeks to submit briefs on the request for a final divorce decree.

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Fund established

Family and friends of Dr. John Yelenic have established a reward fund at the S&T Bank branch at 205 E. Market St., Blairsville.

'There's more than $5,000 in it now, and it's growing more every day,' Blairsville police Chief Donald Hess said.

The reward will be paid to the person who provides information that results in the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Yelenic's death.

Anyone with information can contact police at 724-459-7555.