Judge: No bond for Washington Township man who tried to kill wife

A Washington Township man accused of attempting to kill his estranged wife last weekend will remain behind bars pending further legal proceedings.

Daniel Kenneth Rumon, 53, whose last known address was in Export, is in the Westmoreland County jail facing attempted homicide, kidnapping, arson and other charges, 12 in all.

Washington Township District Judge Jason Buczak on Thursday refused to set bond for Rumon for Saturday's attack on Rumon's estranged wife in their house off of Gill Road.

In a criminal complaint, police allege that just after 8 a.m. Rumon crawled through a doggie door to get into the house. He grabbed his wife as she got out of the shower, pushed her into the bedroom, then zip-tied her hands and ankles.

She allegedly got Rumon to cut off the zip-ties, but he allegedly pointed a stolen, .22-caliber revolver at her and threatened to kill her.

Police say he ordered her to write a suicide note. When he came toward her holding a liquid-filled turkey baster, she knocked it out of his hands.

The victim told police she ran away when Rumon went to the basement.

She drove away and flagged down state police she saw near the Route 66 park-n-ride and then went to the Kiski Valley state police staion.

Meanwhile, township police, who had received a phone call about the disturbance, were on their way to the house.

Police allege Rumon started a fire in the basement and then fled. At some point, he fired a gunshot and ran into the woods, police said.

Police didn't know whether he was still in the house, perhaps barricading himself, or whether he had fled. Police asked Westmoreland County 911 to dispatch numerous fire units but have them wait on roads surrounding Gill Road. The road was blocked at both ends, and some neighbors were evacuated.

The state police SWAT team also was called.

Frustrated firefighters said they had to helplessly watch smoke rise high over the house a mile away. The house burned to the ground.

Police eventually found Rumon's brown Chevrolet Silverado pickup ditched near a field and woods.

Just after 3 p.m., a state police helicopter spotted Rumon lying unconscious in a creek bed. A dog and his revolver were nearby.

Rumon was brought from the woods to an awaiting Oklahoma Borough ambulance.

As paramedics attended to him, Rumon could be heard yelling repeatedly. A Washington Township officer handcuffed him in the ambulance, and he was taken to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville.

In addition to being arraigned Thursday for attempted homicide, kidnapping and arson, Rumon is charged with burglary, theft of the revolver, receiving stolen property, illegal gun possession, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment, stalking and simple assault.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 24.

Chuck Biedka is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-226-4711 or cbiedka@tribweb.com.