Shawn Cranston: Foster daughter of Amish woman's suspected killer rejects 'monster' image of dad
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
SPARTA TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA: The daughter of the apprehended suspect responded to her father's arrest regarding the pregnant Amish woman's death.
Providing context, a 23-year-old pregnant woman named Rebekah Byler was found deceased at her farmhouse on Fish Flat Roads in Sparta Township on February 26, 2024.
Byler's two young children were present in the house when her body was discovered. At the time of her death, she was six months pregnant.
Following the murder, Shawn Cranston was arrested and he made an early appearance in court on Saturday morning and faced multiple murder charges.
What did Shawn Cranston’s daughter claim?
According to court documents, Cranston is accused of unlawfully entering Byler's residence on Fish Flats Road, where he allegedly shot her in the head.
As of Saturday, Crime scene tape still encloses Cranston’s residence on Main Street in Corry.
In an interview with a woman who claimed Cranston served as her foster father during her upbringing, the woman, now in her twenties with children of her own, expressed deep distress, refusing to appear on camera.
"Like I could never picture my dad being that cold-hearted monster. Never in a million years,” she stated, referring to Shawn C. Cranston as per YourErie.
On the day of the murder, neighbors observed a red Jeep parked in Byler’s driveway.
Subsequently, on Friday night, a red Jeep was seen being towed from Cranston’s residence.
“As far as I know, he just wanted his grandson back,” Cranston’s daughter remarked.
She believes the murder may have been a case of mistaken identity, suggesting that the Amish couple who previously resided in Byler’s home had 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 added.
Cranston faces charges of criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary, and criminal trespass. He is currently detained in Crawford County Jail without bail.
What did police report?
The authorities also noted that Cranston appears to be employed by a trucking company and possesses a photograph of a rig named "The Flying Turd."
Furthermore, according to his Facebook page, he wrote, "I'm someone's worst nightmare if they mess with me and mine."
On February 26th, law enforcement officers visited a residence in Sparta Township where they discovered Byler's lifeless body.
Her cause of death has not yet been disclosed. She was found lying on her back in the living room, with fatal injuries to her neck and head.
Byler's two young children were present at home when her body was discovered, but they did not sustain any physical injuries.
Police obtained search warrants to scour the house and other structures on the property for knives, blades, and other items used in the attack.
