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June 23, 2012

Hearings postponed because of lack of autopsy report

By Keith Gushard CNHI

MEADVILLE — The lack of a complete autopsy report on the remains of an Ohio woman whose body was found in a shallow grave near Cochranton last month has delayed the preliminary hearings for two young women accused of killing her.

Ashley Marie Barber, 20, and Jade Nichole Olmstead, 19, both of 29558 Drake Hill Road, Cochranton, were scheduled to appear Monday before Magisterial District Judge Michael Rossi on one count each of criminal homicide, conspiracy to commit criminal homicide and tampering with physical evidence.

However, District Attorney Francis Schultz asked the preliminary hearings for the women be postponed as a full autopsy report on their alleged victim, Brandy M. Stevens, 20, of Beaver Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, hasn’t been complete as yet.

Schultz said he didn’t know why the report had not been completed as yet by Dr. Eric Vey, a forensic pathologist, but said it may be due to workload. Vey performs autopsies for 12 counties in northwest Pennsylvania including Crawford County. Attempts to contact Vey Friday were unsuccessful.

Hearings for the women have been postponed until July 25 before Rossi.

Barber and Olmstead are charged by Pennsylvania State Police with killing Stevens and burying her body in an approximately two-foot-deep grave near the residence Barber and Olmstead share in Wayne Township, in southeastern Crawford County. The home is about five miles east of Cochranton.

Scott Schell, Crawford County coroner, said Stevens sustained multiple in juries from being struck by multiple different objects and her death is considered a homicide.

But, before he makes a final ruling on the cause of death, Schell said he is awaiting the full autopsy report.

Both Barber and Olmstead have been held in the Crawford County jail in Saegertown without bond since their arrests May 24 for the May 17 death of Stevens.

 After being taken into police custody, Barber and Olmstead both admitted to their role in killing Stevens and the burying of her body, according to state police. Stevens’ remains were exhumed from the grave site in Wayne Township by state police and the Crawford County Coroner’s Office.

According to the criminal complaints filed in the case, Barber and Olmstead conspired together and killed Stevens. They each burned their own clothing worn during the killing of Stevens, and also burned some of Stevens’ personal affects, according to the complaints.

No affidavits of probable cause or other documents providing additional details regarding the circumstances of the case had been filed as of Friday.

Authorities began to investigate Stevens’ disappearance after her family in Ohio had reported her as missing May 19.

Local investigators went to Barber’s and Olmstead’s residence May 23 to speak with the two women because information from Beaver Township, Ohio, police found the two women were friends of Stevens.



Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.

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