Bodies Of Kochu, Gray Found In Ohio River In West Virginia

The hearts of the families of two missing Pittsburgh men were broken Thursday when they learned that bodies recovered from the Ohio River in West Virginia last week were those of their loved ones.

The deaths of Andre Gray, who had been shot to death, and Paul Kochu, who might have drowned, “are not related” and are being investigated separately, city police Cmdr. RaShall Brackney said at a news conference Thursday night.

“I’m thankful to God for bringing my son home,” said Gray’s mother, Victoria Gray-Tillman, as she and other family members stood next to Brackney. “Now I can have closure. … I knew all along the Lord had my son.”

City Public Safety Department spokeswoman Sonya Toler said Hubert Wingate, 30, who has been in the Allegheny County Jail since Feb. 21 on unrelated fugitive from justice charges, has been arrested for the slaying of Gray.

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Gas Worker Pleads Guilty To Misdemeanor, Will Cooperate In Wheeling Jesuit Case

English: Wheeling Jesuit University campus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WHEELING, W.Va. — A gas industry worker charged in the beating death of a Wheeling Jesuit University student pleaded guilty Thursday to involuntary manslaughter and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the case against an acquaintance.

Jarrett Mathis Chandler, 24, of Winnfield, La., received the maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine for the misdemeanor. With credit for time served, he will be released Sept. 1.

Police said Chandler and two other shale-gas industry workers, Craig Tyler Peacock, 22, of Clewiston, Fla., and Tyler Witty, 22, of Illinois were involved in a fight with Kevin Figaniak, 21, a senior business major from Perkasie in Bucks County, and another student after a night of drinking on Aug. 31.

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Wheeling Jesuit University Student’s Beating Death Began As Argument – Two Arrested

Map of West Virginia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WHEELING, WV — An argument that turned physical and ended with the death of a Wheeling Jesuit University student this weekend appears to have begun as a random encounter, Wheeling police said this afternoon.

Two men were arrested this morning in Ohio County outside Triadelphia, W.Va., and charged in the killing of Kevin M. Figaniak, 21, of Perkasie, Pa., which is between Allentown and Philadelphia.

Craig Tyler Peacock, 22, of Clewiston, Fla., and Jarrett Mathis Chandler, 24, of Winnfield, La., were arraigned this morning and are being held at the Northern Regional Jail in Moundsville, W.Va., on $1 million cash bond, Wheeling police said.

Each man told police he and his friends followed two unknown men down Edgington Lane, through the intersection and onto Locust Avenue, according to a Wheeling police criminal complaint.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/0/hp_mobile/two-arrested-in-wheeling-jesuit-university-beating-death-701828/#ixzz2dsDwzwkc

Wheeling Jesuit College Student Dies Of Beating Injuries

English: Wheeling Jesuit University campus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What started off as an assault investigation changed to a homicide investigation when a Wheeling Jesuit University student who was beaten early Saturday morning died in a Pittsburgh hospital Sunday.

Kevin Figaniak, 21, of Perkasie, Pa., near Philadelphia, was pronounced dead at UPMC Presbyterian at 3:05 a.m. Sunday, according to the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office.  A man who was with him during the beating sustained mild cuts and refused medical treatment.

Wheeling police said they were called to Locust Avenue and National Road, about a mile from the center of the Wheeling Jesuit campus about 1:45 a.m. Saturday to investigate an assault.  When they arrived, they found Mr. Figaniak lying unresponsive on the ground with “significant head trauma” and rushed him to Wheeling Hospital, according to a statement from Chief Shawn Schwertfeger.

Mr. Figaniak was transported Saturday evening to UPMC Presbyterian, where school officials said friends and family members surrounded him.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/college-student-dies-of-beating-injuries-701640/#ixzz2dl3QnzXt