GUILTY PA - Amanda Downs, 28, found murdered, Sharpsville, 31 Dec 2016

[swanniee11]

http://www.google.org/publicalerts/alert?aid=5dfebaa30ebcaf9a&hl=en&gl=US&source=web

[]Ariella Downs

• Age now: 8 months-old
• Sex: Female
• Hair: Hispanic

[]Suspect

Antonio Velazquez-Rupert

• Age now: 36 years-old
• Sex: Male
• Skin: Hispanic
• Eyes: Brown
• Height: 5 feet 10 inches

:

• Ford Explorer, Dark green
  Ohio license plate #GGD-7760

The Pennsylvania State Police has issued an AMBER Child Abduction Alert for the Sharpsville Police Department. The child was abducted from 331 Canterbury Court, Sharpsville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. She may be with the suspect. Use caution if subject is encountered.

 

[Spomraning]

Just got the alert on my phone. Wonder what direction the vehicle is headed?!?

 

[swanniee11]

https://www.facebook.com/Missing-Pe...-Alert-679046802255381/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

 

[tlcya]

http://www.missingkids.org/poster/AMBER/12128/9705/screen

No photo available of either baby or suspect

Hoping some are forthcoming.

Police are searching for a green Ford Explorer with Ohio plates: GGD-7760.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/12/31/amber-alert-issued-for-8-month-old-in-mercer-county/

She maybe with Antonio Velazquez-Rupert, a 36 yr old Hispanic male 5 feet 10 inches tall, brown eyes

http://www.pahomepage.com/news/amber-alert-issued-in-mercer-county/634197679

 

[swanniee11]

Just got the alert on my phone. Wonder what direction the vehicle is headed?!?

I did too. Came straight over to Websleuths.

 

[swanniee11]

Suspect FB https://www.facebook.com/antonio.velazquezrupert?fref=ts

 

[AmyPond]

ETA. Nevermind. I hadn't refreshed the page so I didn't see someone already posted the FB page of suspect.

 

[swanniee11]

FOUND http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/12/31/amber-alert-issued-for-8-month-old-in-mercer-county/

 

[OkieGranny]

And she is safe:

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news...le-Pennsylvania-Mercer-County--409004145.html

 

[AmyPond]

Oh no...it looks like he killed her mother.

 

[katydid23]

Oh no...it looks like he killed her mother.

Awww no, Thats horrible to hear. RIP sweet mommy :rose:

 

[0101ABA]

Police say an infant abducted in western Pennsylvania was found safe 330 miles away thanks to a quick-thinking resident who saw an Amber Alert on his phone.

(...)

Pennsylvania State Police issued an Amber Alert. After receiving the alert, Velazquez-Rupert’s family told police the suspect may have been heading to Reading, Pa. (...)

At the same time, an off-duty security worker in Reading who had just seen the Amber Alert on his phone noticed a vehicle that matched the SUV officials described in the alert (...)

“I dialed 911 and I took off after him,” Daniel Deturck told WFMZ.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pennsyl...ant-ariella-downs-abducted-by-murder-suspect/

 

[0101ABA]

A man arrested in Berks County after allegedly killing a woman and abducting their 8-month-old daughter in western Pennsylvania has been charged with homicide and kidnapping.

Antonio Velasquez-Rupert was returned to Mercer County and arraigned before a judge Thursday afternoon, according to the Sharon Police Department.

http://www.wfmz.com/news/berks/man-...rt-charged-with-homicide-kidnapping/249095849

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

From last month:

Hearing held in Downs murder

http://www.sharonherald.com/news/hearing-held-in-downs-murder/article_e9e7c942-e792-11e7-8f70-8f39f08f9d82.html

Wednesday’s hearing was a result of a disagreement over the admissibility of evidence connected to the murder.

In Velazquez-Rupert’s preliminary hearing in district court in February, the prosecution wanted to use photos and social media as evidence, but the defense argued that it would be double-hearsay.

That argument made it to the Mercer County Court of Common Pleas, where it is now in Judge Robert G. Yeatts’ hands to determine which photos and social media communications are admissible.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Nearly two years after the killing and kidnapping that landed a Sharpsville man in jail, court officials have pushed back a trial date after several months of continuations.

Thirty-eight-year-old Antonio Velazquez Rupert will wait until April 2019, more than two years after the alleged crime, to face a jury of his peers.

Trial delayed for Sharpsville man accused of killing woman, kidnapping infant

 

[JerseyGirl]

President Judge Robert G. Yeatts sentenced Velazquez Rupert, 37, of Sharpsville, to 35 to 70 years in state prison in connection with the December 2016 death of Amanda Downs, 28.

Murder suspect gets prison time: Antonio Velazquez Rupert accepts plea deal, admits to killing Amanda Downs

As part of his plea agreement, Velazquez Rupert was required to admit to his crime. During a hearing, he said that he hit Downs once or twice in the head with a dumbbell in his Sharpsville apartment that night because he was angry. He also admitted to kidnapping the couple’s then-8-month-old daughter, stealing Downs’ car and using her bank card on Dec. 30 and 31.