SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, Pa. — Six people are being charged with homicide and related charges for the death of a man in Susquehanna County.
One by one, state police led five people out of the Gibson barracks in Susquehanna County in handcuffs Wednesday afternoon:
- Blaze Corter,
- Matthew Baker,
- Daniel Williams,
- John Sullivan,
- Tracee Joe Shimer.
Troopers say all five played a role in the murder of Tyler Barber.
In September, Harmony Road near Great Bend was shut down as state police searched a wooded area for Barber. The search turned up nothing, but according to court paperwork, a hunter found skeletal remains two months later in that same general area.
Those remains were identified as Barber's.
"We had troopers, all law enforcement agencies, out in the woods for days looking for this, looking for Mr. Barber. And today, it came to a closure, and we were able to put these people behind bars that were involved with this," said Trooper Robert Urban.
State police say Barber was killed in September after Corter accused him of being a snitch. According to court paperwork, Corter and Williams, Baker, and Sullivan forced Barber into a car.
The men blindfolded Barber and tied him to a tree near the Great Bend boat launch. They took turns punching Barber and stripped him down to his underwear.
According to the affidavit, Corter and Williams then went to Barber's house to look for money. They came back with another man: Nikalos Petrich.
Troopers say Petrich had a baseball bat that he and Corter used to beat Barber before they left.
The suspects told troopers that Barber was still alive at that time.
Corter, Williams, Baker, Sullivan, and Petrich have been charged with homicide, kidnapping, and other charges.
State police also arrested Tracee Joe Shimer and charged her with conspiracy. Troopers say that after Barber was forced into a car, Shimer texted one of the men to tell them that police were in the area and that they should go in a different direction.
In a statement about the arrests, Barber's aunt, Patty Swank, said:
"His mom wants full justice and for those accused to never see the light of day for what they've done to him. Tyler left behind a wonderful little boy that will never see his daddy again because of the actions of others."
Corter, Baker, Sullivan, and Williams were denied bail. Shimer could not post bail. They were taken to the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility.
State police are still trying to locate Petrich and believe he is somewhere in New York State.
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