A 14-year-old boy has been charged in the shooting deaths of his mother and 8-year-old brother, whose bodies were found Wednesday morning in their Pennsylvania home.
Jacob Remaley has been charged as an adult and faces two counts each of criminal homicide and first-degree murder, according to web dockets that police sources verified.
Pennsylvania State Police identified the victims as New Stanton residents 46-year-old Dana Remaley and her son, 8-year-old Caleb Remaley. WPXI has learned that Caleb was a third grade student at Stanwood Elementary School, and Dana Remaley worked as a personal care assistant at West Hempfield Middle School.
School officials said grief counseling will be available for all students and staff in the Hempfield School District.
Westmoreland County's Office of the Coroner ruled the cause of both victims’ deaths as a gunshot wound to the head and the manner as homicide. Dana Remaley and Caleb were found in their beds in separate rooms on Wednesday morning, authorities said.
Police said Wednesday that Jacob Remaley told troopers he took an unloaded gun from the top of the refrigerator, loaded it and went into his mother's room first.
Troopers also said Wednesday that he called 911 and initially told dispatchers that his father shot his mother and brother. Shortly after the 911 call, police said that a neighbor spotted the teen on the road with the gun and convinced him to toss it aside before police arrived.
Jacob Remaley also told troopers that if his father had been home, he would have shot him as well, according to a criminal complaint obtained by TribLIVE.
Thermo Village Road was shut down while investigators gathered evidence from the home where the victims were found. The coroner was called to the scene, along with state police and other officials.
Neighbors told WPXI they were asked by state police if they heard any gunshots Wednesday morning, but said they didn't hear anything.
"We were all completely in the dark and had no idea what was going on. I actually thought it was an accident and the presence kept getting bigger," said neighbor Patrick Lacey. "When I was young, we helped babysit the son but honestly since they've grown up and I grew up, we haven't seen too much. Just neighborly hellos."
Authorities said the investigation is continuing and while motive has yet to be determined, it appears that the teen had not been getting along with his parents.
About the Author
