Robbery suspects linked to other crimes

Four Indiana County people awaiting trial for a series of convenience store robberies are facing charges in other crimes.

Robert Watkins, 32, and Diedra Endres, 22, both of Clarksburg, and Jason Kuzemczak, 34 and Melissa Marino, 35, of Blairsville were charged with the May burglary of a home on White Street in Conemaugh. Taken were guns, a television and money, with a total value of $3,900.

The quartet were charged last month with four holdups of a Choice Cigarette Outlet in Derry Township earlier this year.

Watkins and Marino were charged Friday with the June 12 robbery of the Family Dollar in Burrell Township. Shannon Johnston, 27, of New Florence was charged.

Watkins, wearing a tan bandanna, allegedly walked into the store just before closing and pulled out a handgun. He took $250 before fleeing on foot, according to a criminal complaint.

Watkins was charged with burglarizing concession stands belonging to the Young Township Baseball Association and the Homer City Boosters Association between June 2 and 9. Taken were $1,330 in cash, candy bars, hot dogs, hamburgers, toilet paper and a baseball bat.

Watkins, Marino and Johnston were arraigned before Blairsville District Judge Jennifer Rega in the Family Dollar holdup.

All five people are being held in the Westmoreland County Jail on charges of robbery and other offenses.

Allegheny County authorities have filed a detainer against Watkins, who faces drug charges, according to court records.

Preliminary hearing dates have not been scheduled.

Watkins and Johnston have been implicated but not charged in the August death of Rodnell Donte Burton, 17, of Pittsburgh, who was beaten to death and set afire. His body was found in a barrel in Black Lick Creek.

Jon Anthony Black, 32, of Yukon has been charged with the slaying and is being held in the Indiana County Jail.

Watkins and Johnston were linked to the Burton homicide through statements they gave to police.

According to state police, Burton had gone to Watkins' trailer in Conemaugh Township to collect a drug debt when he was killed.

Watkins claimed that Black beat Burton to death with a baseball bat, according to police. Watkins helped Black to carry Burton's body outside and dump it in a 55-gallon barrel that was filled with heating oil and set on fire, according to the criminal complaint against Black.

Johnston was at the trailer that day, according to state police, and she told investigators she had grabbed a baseball bat to prevent Burton from entering a part of the trailer where children were.

She said Black took the bat from her and struck the victim in the head, according to the complaint.