PA - Rebekah Byler, 23, mother & six months pregnant, murdered, Crawford County, 26 Feb 2024 *Arrest*

[airportwoman]

Out of curiosity, what does that look like? Plumbing? Heat? Air? Do they have it and just not use it?

I've read "The Amish Cook" for many years. They have to meet current guidelines regarding wood stoves if they have one, and that if they use propane or kerosene appliances like refrigerators or washing machines, that they are properly vented. Windows, stairs, doorways, etc. also have to meet code.

Lovina's Amish Kitchen

www.lovinasamishkitchen.com

She has 8 children and an ever-increasing number of grandchildren, whose names are leaning towards those used in the non-Amish world. These kids include Ryan, Jennifer, Kaitlynn, and (of all things!) Denzel. Her daughter and SIL heard the name and liked it, so that's what they named him. At least three of her children have a recessive-genetic disorder called limb-girdle dystrophy, that causes weakness in the shoulder and hip muscles, and they are allowed to use motorized scooters, which they charge with solar panels at home. This disorder will probably not affect their life expectancies.

p.s. Her youngest son is named Kevin, after their agent at the time, who they considered a member of the family. He ended up cheating them, although IDK the whole story.

 

[Hereshecomes75]

On Sundays, the Amish community meet together with other Amish people in their community. It is a day long event. Prayer service and then meal prep and eating. The men get together and the women separately. No work or business can be conducted on Sundays. The young men typically take buggies out at night and get together at certain places. I've seen them smoking cigars and racing their buggies.
Don't know where the Sunday service was and if it was close to the perpetrators home or business activity.

If they are like the Lancaster County Amish, a church district meets every other Sunday. The “off” Sundays are supposed to be used for family worship in the home.

 

[alexwood]

 

[MoominMama222]

I agree. At the same time, there is a garage and what appears to be car / truck pulled trailer on the property.

The victim's family may not watch a whole lot of television. Thus, they might not be aware of the possible error. Or, they may not want to make a public correction of a possible error as Mennonites as a groups are not that interested in what others declare.

Likewise, Amish or Mennonite, it does not really matter in the end for the victim. Thus, it could be similar to a victim's family not wanting to correct say an accidently mis stated Baptist verse Pentecostal affiliation.

Could also be Beachy Amish, as they do drive cars.

oops sorry. I wrote this before I saw the post to drop it. I don't know how to delete!

 

[SherryLock]

(My words here) So, it appears to be a case of mistaken identity.

Allegedly, Shawn Cranston incorrectly believed that the former residents still lived in the house that the Bylers now occupy. These former residents had adopted his, Shawn Cranston's, grandson and Shawn Cranston didn't like it.

So Shawn Cranston decided to take it upon himself to go over there and take his grandson back. A struggle ensued after he broke into the Byler home, and he shot Rebekah Byler in the head, then slit her throat.

No words.

 

[alexwood]

(My words here) So, it appears to be a case of mistaken identity.

Allegedly, Shawn Cranston incorrectly believed that the former residents still lived in the house that the Bylers now occupy. These former residents had adopted his, Shawn Cranston's, grandson and Shawn Cranston didn't like it.

So Shawn Cranston decided to take it upon himself to go over there and take his grandson back. A struggle ensued after he broke into the Byler home, and he shot Rebekah Byler in the head, then slit her throat.

No words.

Then did he look around and not see his grandson? Or did he even know what he looked like?

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

Then did he look around and not see his grandson? Or did he even know what he looked like?

Right? That makes no sense to me. Just goes in and kills the first adult he sees?

 

[SherryLock]

Right? That makes no sense to me. Just goes in and kills the first adult he sees?

Yep. And I'm gonna guess substance abuse and/or mental illness played a part here.

 

[SteveP]

(My words here) So, it appears to be a case of mistaken identity.

Allegedly, Shawn Cranston incorrectly believed that the former residents still lived in the house that the Bylers now occupy. These former residents had adopted his, Shawn Cranston's, grandson and Shawn Cranston didn't like it.

So Shawn Cranston decided to take it upon himself to go over there and take his grandson back. A struggle ensued after he broke into the Byler home, and he shot Rebekah Byler in the head, then slit her throat.

No words.

If this is indeed the excuse behind her murder, he gets not one scintilla of mercy from me. Any issue he had should have been with the bio parents, one of whom is HIS child, not the loving couple that adopted them. And an "oops, my bad" , mistaken identity defense isn't gonna cut it. If proven guilty of these two brutal murders, may he never draw another breath as a free man. JMO

 

[airportwoman]

I'm glad he at least didn't (to our knowledge) harm the two older children.

 

[airportwoman]

If this is indeed the excuse behind her murder, he gets not one scintilla of mercy from me. Any issue he had should have been with the bio parents, one of whom is HIS child, not the loving couple that adopted them. And an "oops, my bad" , mistaken identity defense isn't gonna cut it. If proven guilty of these two brutal murders, may he never draw another breath as a free man. JMO

Whaddya bet this guy has a long history of violent, antisocial behavior, even if he hasn't killed before?

 

[Knox]

Wow, that was an unexpected motive!! Earlier in the thread I posted Rebekah & her husband bout the home in October last year, they hadn't been there long. So what did he do, drive up and down the road before finally stopping?

I'll be curious to hear what the story is with the grandson who must have been removed from someone's custody. Was he removed from his home?

 

[vls12345]

(My words here) So, it appears to be a case of mistaken identity.

Allegedly, Shawn Cranston incorrectly believed that the former residents still lived in the house that the Bylers now occupy. These former residents had adopted his, Shawn Cranston's, grandson and Shawn Cranston didn't like it.

So Shawn Cranston decided to take it upon himself to go over there and take his grandson back. A struggle ensued after he broke into the Byler home, and he shot Rebekah Byler in the head, then slit her throat.

No words.

Wow.

And if he took his grandson, was SC thinking *he* would be the correct adult in that child's life? Because obviously he wouldn't be fit to raise anyone.

Wonder how the adoptive family feels hearing this? Had they had previous run-ins with him or had he stalked them, I wonder?

Absolutely horrifying.

MOO.

 

[Knox]

What does the woman mean "she started yelling at him when he came in and that's all it took"? Is she talking about Rebekah?

 

[LoveyG]

Wonder what his rep in prison will be like when the fellas learn he's in the Big House for killing a defenseless, pregnant Amish woman. What an idiot.

 

[SteveP]

The back story about the suspects grandkids being adopted by the former residents of the murdered woman's home can be, and probably already has been easily verified. The finding of a red Jeep at the house of the grandfather of those kids, that matches the descriptions of several witnesses who saw it at and near the murdered woman's home the morning of the killings, is huge. Review of cams between the two locations, the suspect's home and the murdered woman's home, including very possibly cams next door to his home, at Dollar General, will possibly be able to paint a timeline of that morning. DNA likely was left behind by the killer and a search of his vehicle and home may have turned up the murder weapon (he doesn't seem smart enough to throw it away, imo). LE seemed to be on top of this from very early on. Kudos to them! And kudos to the Amish neighbors who DID apparently help LE in any way that they could. Not to mention, he probably had his cell phone turned on the entire time and may have actually used google maps to find the home. JMO

This case may prove to be the closest thing to a slam dunk that you ever see in a murder trial. May justice come swiftly! JMO

 

[SleutherGirl]

So to recap, this idiot was looking for his grandson, who was in foster care. He believed that the boy was at the house. The door opens and he sees a pregnant woman and . . . . decides to shoot? Did he question where the boy was? Did he look for the boy afterward?

Edit: And not only a pregnant woman but a pregnant Mennonite?? woman. What was she going to do, shoot him with a revolver?

Second edit: And it's not like he couldn't tell that the household was Mennonite, I'm sure. There must have been signs.

 

[vls12345]

Daughter of arrested suspect reacts to pregnant Amish woman murder case

Warning: Details in this story may be disturbing to some readers. Spartansburg, Pa. (WJET/WFXP) — Five days after a pregnant Amish woman was murdered in her Pennsylvania home, her alleged kill…

www.yourerie.com

"As of Saturday, Crime scene tape still surrounds Cranston’s home on Main Street in Corry. JET 24/FOX 66’s Jennifer Mobilia spoke with a woman who said Cranston was her foster dad growing up."

and

"Cranston’s daughter believes the murder was a case of mistaken identity. She added the Amish couple who lived in Byler’s home a few years ago adopted Cranston’s grandson.

“Supposedly she started yelling at him, coming in, then that’s when boom, all it took. It’s just horrifying to think that,” she continued."

 

[vls12345]

I am still confused by this latest version of events. Imo.

 

[Coppertop15]

Well this is weird and unexpected.