BUTLER CO., Pa. (EYT) — The case against a Chicora man accused of shooting his wife has been held for court.
According to online court documents, the case against 30-year-old Joshua Paladin Crawford, of Chicora, has been transferred to Butler County Court of Common Pleas.
Crawford has been charged in the fatal shooting of his wife of three months — Sarah Crawford — that occurred on December 4 at his residence in Donegal Township, Butler County.
Following the December 20 hearing in front of Judge Lewis E. Stoughton, the family of Sarah Crawford is asking for justice, “saying there’s no reason why she had to die,” according to a published article on Pittsburgh-CBS.
“He took pieces of our heart when he killed her, and we just hope that he gets punished as severely as possible,” stated Sarah’s grandmother.
Fatal Shooting Victim — Sarah Crawford
Details of the Homicide Case
Police say around 9:09 p.m., on December 4, Joshua Crawford, got into a verbal argument with his wife, 30-year-old Sarah Crawford, also of Chicora. Crawford was in the process of leaving his residence to get out of the situation.
According to a court documents, “When Crawford’s wife allegedly called him several names, including a ‘mama’s boy,’ Crawford said he was going to shoot himself. He went to the kitchen and grabbed his hunting rifle that he had planned on using to hunt with Monday morning. (He) took the loaded gun, put it under his chin, and pulled the trigger, but the gun didn’t fire.”
“After re-seating the loaded magazine, police say Crawford told them his wife Sarah was yelling at him to shoot himself. (Crawford) then lowered the rifle to his side, pointed it at Sarah, and pulled the trigger,” court documents state.
Crawford called Butler State Police and was arrested in the early morning hours of December 5.
Crawford Charged, Jailed, Awaiting Court
Crawford was arraigned at 4:00 a.m. on December 5 in front of Magisterial District Judge Lewis E. Stoughton on the following first-degree felony charges:
– Criminal Homicide
– Aggravated Assault
Sources say that during the December 20 preliminary hearing, Crawford’s attorney said his client was in a mental health crisis and was put on suicide watch at the Butler County Jail.
He remains lodged in the Butler County Jail; bail was denied since this is a criminal homicide case.
The case is currently working its way through the court system.
