Three people in Pennsylvania were arrested last week for allegedly strangling a man who was overdosing on drugs with jumper cables, putting a hat and sunglasses on him to make him look alive and dumping his body in the woods, officials reported.
According to investigators in Lackawanna County, suspect Tyler Mirabelli told police his friends called him for a ride when they thought the victim, Joshua Rose, was overdosing. Instead, troopers allege Mirabelli drove his truck north on Interstate 81 from Scranton toward Susquehanna County with the victim, and suspects Preston Layfield and Amanda Wayda in the car.
Prosecutors said they have never seen a case like this before.
“Bottom line, they drove right past a hospital and continued north on I-81.”
“Bottom line, they drove right past a hospital and continued north on I-81. At this time, we are not sure why they did that,” said Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Mark Prushinski.
According to court papers, as the group reached northern Lackawanna County Layfield used jumper cables to strangle Rose.
Troopers said before the trio stopped for gas, they dressed up the body to make him look alive by placing a hat and sunglasses on him.
“If someone is OD’ing you should help them, right? To the hospital is the number one thing, not strangle them and dump their body. It’s absolutely terrible,” said Brandon Ritter, of Lenoxville.
Detectives said the group then made another stop near on Glenwood Road in Hop Bottom where they heaved the body near some railroad tracks.
Tammy Carey lives right up the hill and heard a train whistle blow as police arrived.
“I thought it was a deer or something on the tracks, but it turns out it was something different,” Carey said.
An arrest warrant was issued for Wayda. State police said she called police on Sunday and told them she had witnessed a murder.
Wayda was taken into custody by troopers from the Frackville station and was being held in the Lackawanna County Prison.
Mirabelli and Layfield were charged with aggravated assault and conspiracy.
An autopsy for Rose was scheduled for Tuesday. Prosecutors said they expect to file more charges.
