'Jo Jo' Heath killed
FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP - A bloody trail led state police to the home of a Charleroi man who has been charged Monday with criminal homicide in the stabbing death of one of the most famous athletes in Monessen history.
Shortly before noon Monday, two hunters found the body of Joseph "Jo Jo" Heath Jr., 45, of 115 Lincoln Ave., Fayette City, in a creek in a wooded area near an old strip mine.
Heath's body was discovered approximately a half-mile from Thirteenth Street Extension.
State police in Belle Vernon charged Jason Allen Benner, 29, of 1217 Lower Crest Ave., with the alleged murder.
Benner was arraigned 10:45 p.m. Monday before Charleroi District Justice Larry Hopkins of Charleroi. Benner also was charged with aggravated assault, robbery and theft by unlawful taking and disposition. He was placed in the Washington County Jail without bond.
According to Hopkins, Benner admitted to his role in the murder.
According to state Trooper Rebecca L. Loving, investigators at the scene where Heath's body was found observed a blood trail and a set of footprints along the access road leading toward Thirteenth Street.
The trail ended at Benner's residence.
Upon investigation, troopers discovered Benner was at UPMC Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he was being treated for a severe laceration to his hand.
Further investigation led to Benner's arrest. A search of his home reportedly turned up property owned by Heath.
Washington County Coroner S. Timothy Warco said Heath died of multiple stab wounds to the torso. The former Monessen man also was badly beaten about the face.
A police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the crime scene was expansive, covering two municipalities.
"There was blood everywhere," the source said.
The investigation is continuing.
Heath's sister, Sabrina Heath, said the family is in a state of shock over his death.
"When my mom called and told me, my legs went out from under me," she said. "I just never expected this, especially about Jo Jo."
In the neighborhood where Heath's body was found, a group of Lookout Avenue residents said they were surprised to see police investigators on their property after a quiet night.
Barbie Breckenridge, of 1225 Lookout Ave., said she slept through Sunday night undisturbed.
"None of the dogs were barking and our dogs bark at everything," she said.
Lookout Avenue resident Mike Ornot said he came out of his house to find police in his yard.
"There was a trail of blood going down (my) driveway," Ornot said.
"I came out to take my wife to work," resident Ermin Mikels said. "All (police) told me was, 'This is a crime scene. Go back in the house and don't come back out.'"
A convoy of police vehicles closed off the residential area and blocked off Thirteenth Street leading to the wooded area where Heath was found.
"There appears to be an altercation. It's very suspicious," Warco said.
"I don't think you have any reason to be alarmed," he told the residents as police searched for the suspect.
"It's a shame, because we're talking about the loss of life. It's just pitiful to have someone die this way."
A motive for the crime was not immediately identified. However, Heath had an extensive history of drug arrests and other criminal offenses.
In 1990, he was charged with selling a small amount of cocaine to an undercover officer.
Heath pleaded guilty to that crime, as well as two armed robberies. He served time in prison.
A 1976 Monessen High School graduate, Heath enjoyed an outstanding athletic career with the Greyhounds. He was a three-year starter in football and basketball and also starred in track and field.
A highly recruited football player, Heath went to the University of Pittsburgh, where he played from 1976-79. He played on Pitt's 1976 national championship team and served as captain of the 1979 team, which went 11-1 and finished seventh in the nation. He starred in the Panthers' secondary.
Heath was drafted in the sixth round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1980 and played one season there.
In 1982, he played for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League and twice played in the Grey Cup - the CFL's version of the Super Bowl.
After the 1982 championship contest, Heath received the Rothman's Trophy, which is awarded to the defensive player of the game.
During his stint in the CFL, Heath was one of the highest-paid defensive backs in the league.
Heath's pro football career included NFL stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets. He also played with British Columbia in the CFL, with Pittsburgh and Houston in the United States Football League and with Pittsburgh's short-lived franchise in the Arena Football League.
Heath served as an assistant football coach at Monessen in 1990.
Benner moved to Charleroi approximately two years ago from Colorado, where he had several outstanding warrants for domestic offenses.
According to Charleroi police, Benner had been cited various times for summary offenses.
Although no one else has been charged in the crime, Sabrina Heath said family members believe Benner did not act alone.
"(Benner) is a skinny man. I definitely think someone else was involved," she said. "I can't see only one man doing that to Jo Jo, especially as many times as he was stabbed. Jo Jo was a martial arts expert and he was a strong man.
"I know someone else was involved."
