FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — A court hearing was held on Friday in the Tausha Baker homicide case after one of the defendants appealed a motion by the district attorney for an extension of time to file additional charges.
According to online court documents, a hearing was held on Friday in Venango County Court of Common Pleas for 29-year-old Richard Kennedy, of Vandergrift.
Kennedy is appealing a motion by Venango County District Attorney Shawn White for an extension of time to file additional charges in the Tausha Baker homicide case.
His court-appointed counsel Robert Kinnear filed a Brief in Opposition to Late Filing of Aggravated Circumstances.
Kennedy and 33-year-old Amanda L. Cypher, of Franklin, are accused of murdering Tausha Baker.
According to a published article on YourErie.com, DA White is seeking a death penalty option for Kennedy.
During the hearing, President Judge Oliver J. Lobaugh made the following Order of Court:
– All counsel, law enforcement agencies, office personnel, potential witnesses shall not make any extrajudicial statements;
– All Court personnel prohibited from disclosing information relating to case without authorization by the Court;
– This Order to stay in effect until further Order of Court; and
– This Order shall not affect the public, media, or press from attending the proceedings.
A ruling on the appeal has not been made.
A pre-trial conference for Amanda Cypher is scheduled for April 23.
Benjamin Breene Levine is the court-appointed counsel for Cypher.
Kennedy and Cypher remain incarcerated.
Bail has been denied.
Case Details:
Kennedy and Cypher are accused of murdering 25-year-old Tausha Lee Baker in an apparent botched drug deal.
Police believe Kennedy used a pair of brass knuckles and a heavy frying pan to beat to death 25-year-old Tausha Lee Baker, of Franklin, on Friday, October 27.
Cypher is accused of being involved in the crime and helping to cover it up.
Kennedy is facing charges of Criminal Homicide; Conspiracy — Criminal Homicide; and Aggravated Assault, all first-degree felonies, and Abuse of a Corpse and Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence, both second-degree misdemeanors.
District Attorney Shawn White had charges added to the indictment against Kennedy, including Aggravated Assault, a second-degree felony, and three first-degree misdemeanors that include Possession of an Instrument of Crime With Intent; Possession of a Weapon; and Make Repairs/Sell/Etc. Offensive Weapons.
Cypher is facing charges of Conspiracy — Criminal Homicide and Aggravated Assault, both first-degree felonies, and Abuse of a Corpse and Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence, both second-degree misdemeanors. A charge of Aggravated Assault, a second-degree felony was also added.
Judge Kirtland Hears Testimonies During Preliminary Hearing
Judge Kirtland heard testimony from 11 different people. Two men who lived in the house where Baker was killed testified, as well as Baker’s father, four investigators, and the Venango County coroner.
Testimonies from Bill Umstead, who was renting the house (pictured below), and Mark Daniels, who lived there, revealed that Kennedy and Cypher were at the residence looking for Baker. They said she sold them $200.00 worth of methamphetamine instead of crack cocaine. They were trying to get their money back.