CLEARFIELD, Pa. (GANT) – The case against a Luthersburg man who is accused of assisting in a DuBois woman’s suicide in January of 2015 will go to the jury Wednesday in Clearfield County Court.
Brian Lee Schaffer, 44, of Luthersburg is facing charges of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, criminal homicide, aiding suicide and involuntary manslaughter.
District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. is presenting the case on behalf of the commonwealth. Schaffer is being represented by defense attorney Gary A. Knaresboro, Esq., of DuBois. President Judge Fredric Ammerman is presiding over the case.
The charges against Schaffer stem from an incident Jan. 2, 2015 in DuBois when the victim allegedly shot herself with Schaffer’s gun. On Wednesday the jury heard testimony from a forensic pathologist, a toxicology expert, a firearms expert and the arresting officer.
On the date in question, Corporal Matthew Robertson of DuBois City police arrived at the scene at the same time as Officer Casey Doherty. Officer Paul Brosky was already at the scene, and directed him into the living room of the residence.
Once inside Robertson said he observed a female seated in the middle of the couch. She was bleeding severely from her right temple, nose and mouth and taking slow, intermittent breaths. County dispatch was requested to expedite emergency personnel to attempt to save the victim’s life, he testified.
Once the victim was removed from the residence, Robertson remained at the scene. He observed a lot of blood on the couch but indicated there wasn’t any more found in other areas of the residence. On the floor, Robertson observed a gun in front of the couch, and it was located slightly to the left of the victim.
Robertson said police collected a spent casing and two cellular phones. Doherty, he said neutralized, collected and secured the gun within his patrol vehicle. Robertson conducted an initial interview with Schaffer at the scene.
Schaffer told him he wasn’t living at the residence but stayed there two or three nights a week. He said he was upstairs when he heard the back door open and close. He went downstairs when he heard a bang and found the victim had shot herself.
Later on Jan. 2, 2015, Robertson said Doherty conducted an interview with Schaffer at the police station. He said he initially provided a similar account but then changed his story significantly to admit seeing the victim shoot herself.
“It was a reason for concern,” he said, “and we continued our investigation.” On Feb. 19, 2015, Robertson said he and Cpl. Randy Young interviewed Schaffer again and he changed his story several times.
The full story is available at GantDaily.com.
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