A girl returning home from school yesterday found her sister dead, a victim of a double shooting that also claimed her mother's life, neighbors and police said.
Allegheny County police arrested Durand J. Alexander, 30, of McKees Rocks for the slaying of his girlfriend, Sherry Crawley, 43, and her daughter, Tia Crawley, 15. He was charged with two counts of homicide and one firearms violation. He is being held at the Allegheny County Jail without bond.
Kiana Crawley, 14, found the bodies about 4:41 p.m. inside the Frazier Avenue home in Stowe, investigators said.
Neighbors said Kiana, a Stowe Middle School student, came home from volleyball practice and found her sister's body near the computer.
County police Lt. William Palmer said detectives were able to speak briefly with Kiana, whom he described as being "obviously traumatized."
Samantha Schmidt, 14, who is friends with Kiana, said Kiana called another friend who came over and called police.
"Kiana said she didn't go upstairs," Samantha said. "She didn't know her mom was dead."
Jim Pachasa, who lives across the street, said Kiana told him she found her sister's body on the couch.
Pachasa said Sherry Crawley and her children were good neighbors.
"She lived there a little over two years. They were real quiet and never bothered anyone," he said. "She would sit on her porch and I would sit on mine and we would talk. She was a very sweet person. It's just a crying shame to hear what happened. They were very good people."
Missy Stine, whose daughter is friends with Kiana, said Tia Crawley was a cyber school student.
"Sherry was a hard-working, single mom who was trying her best to take care of her kids," Stine said. "Kiana is always over our house. We love her. She'll always be part of our family."
