Man arraigned in 2017 beating death in Uniontown
A Connellsville man was arraigned and denied bail Thursday afternoon for allegedly beating a woman to death in 2017 in Uniontown.
Lonnie Jay Miller, 43, of Run Avenue was charged with criminal homicide for allegedly killing 46-year-old Rhonna Beatty Aug. 13 at 114 Pittsburgh Street.
Miller insisted that Beatty died from falling during several interviews with Uniontown City Police. He allegedly admitted to killer her during a police interview Thursday morning.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Miller, Beatty and Ricki Sue Snyder were drinking together at the Uniontown house before her death. Police were called at about 9 a.m. after Snyder said she found Beatty unresponsive. Her body was cold. Beatty was pronounced dead at Uniontown Hospital.
Court documents indicate Beatty died from a brain hemorrhage caused by blunt force trauma. She had a significant facial injury, facial fracture, dislocated shoulder and multiple bruises on her body, according to autopsy results by the Fayette County Coroner蘑菇视频 Office, which were summarized in court paperwork.
Miller allegedly admitted to state police Thursday morning he killed Beatty. He said they were arguing and he hit her, causing her to hit her head on a dresser. She lost consciousness, he reportedly told police during the interview.
鈥淢iller stated that he drug Beatty into their bedroom and placed Beatty in bed to sleep it off,鈥� Uniontown City Police Officer Jamie Holland wrote in the affidavit. 鈥淢iller stated that he did not contact 911 because he panicked and thought Beatty could sleep it off.鈥�
During an earlier interview Jan. 19, 2018, Miller claimed he found Beatty on the floor after hearing her fall. In March 2018, he allegedly contradicted his earlier interview. He said he was arguing with Beatty because she 鈥渄rank too much,鈥� but denied hitting her. After the argument, he claimed Beatty went into Snyder蘑菇视频 bedroom.
鈥淎nd don鈥檛 ask me what happened in there. I don鈥檛 know,鈥� he was quoted as saying. He claimed her heard Snyder slam the door, heard a thump and saw Beatty on the floor. He said he put Beatty in bed and saw her stop breathing between 3 and 3:30 a.m. He claimed he called 911 then, but court records show the call was placed at 9:12 a.m.
Snyder told police she heard Beatty and Miller arguing about vodka that night. She said she heard a thud when she was in the bathroom and saw Miller dragging Beatty. At about 9 a.m. she saw Beatty, who appeared dead, and told Miller to call 911 while she performed CPR. Miller told Snyder Beatty fell, according to the affidavit.
鈥淪nyder also states that she is scared of Miller and his anger,鈥� Holland wrote in the affidavit.
During the 911 call, he said 鈥渟he fell into the dresser drawers and messed her face and everything up,鈥� according to court documents.
He was arraigned at 1 p.m. before on-call Magisterial District Judge Jennifer Jeffries.
About four days after Beatty蘑菇视频 death, he reportedly went to the Uniontown City Police station drunk to report someone was after him. He threw a brick at a police vehicle, and was charged with institutional vandalism and criminal mischief. He told Jeffries at the arraignment he is still on probation in that case.
In 1998, he was sentenced to six to 23 months after pleading guilty to corruption of minors and simple assault, court records indicate. He told Jeffries he spent six months in jail.
His preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for 1:15 p.m. May 14 before Magisterial District Judge Michael Metros.