Three suspects in the beating death of a Punxsutawney man were arrested Wednesday by state police and charged with criminal homicide.
Douglas P. Cristner and Ted A. Shank, both of Punxsutawney, and Randy Shank, of Rochester Mills, Indiana County, all 25, were taken into custody yesterday in connection with the death of 34-year-old Richard A. Gemmill, whose body was found Tuesday afternoon along a remote road in northern Indiana County.
The three have been charged with criminal homicide, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault in connection with the case, said Trooper Jamie Levier, spokesman for the Punxsutawney-based state police.
Police believe the three beat Gemmill to death early Tuesday morning in an alley near a bar in downtown Punxsutawney, where the suspects and victim had been moments before, said Levier.
The attack reportedly was triggered by a fight the suspects had with the victim inside the bar, Levier said. He declined to name the bar.
An autopsy performed yesterday at Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown determined Gemmill died from a brain hemorrhage and skull fracture caused by severe blows to the head, according to Deputy Indiana County Coroner Michael Baker.
The injuries likely were caused by punching or kicking or use of a blunt instrument, Baker said. He said it was unknown what, if any, objects may have been used in the attack. Authorities believe Gemmill died at the scene.
Police allege that, after the attack, the suspects drove south about eight miles and dumped the victim's body over an embankment along a back road near the village of Rossiter.
State police discovered the body Tuesday afternoon, he said, but he declined to say how they knew of its whereabouts. Baker, who pronounced the victim dead at 5:25 p.m., estimated that the body had been on the side of the road 12 to 15 hours.
Police believe the suspects took some personal items from the victim, Levier said, but he declined to say what those items were.
Ted Shank was arraigned yesterday afternoon before District Justice Douglas Chambers of Punxsutawney and ordered held without bail in the Jefferson County Jail in Brookville. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. The other two suspects were expected to be arraigned last night.
Results from toxicology tests performed on the victim should be available in several days, Baker said.
Ted Shank and Randy Shank are not brothers, Levier said, but could be related in another way. Although no other arrests are pending in the case, the investigation is continuing, he said.
