LATROBE, PA – A Pennsylvania community is in turmoil following the arrest of a local man tied to the violent death of a woman, an incident that began with a spurned sexual advance and ended in murder, police said.
Authorities in Westmoreland County have charged 54-year-old Glenn Whittier with criminal homicide and tampering with evidence in the death of 59-year-old Pamela Puskar. Puskar was tragically found deceased in her kitchen at Loyalhanna Apartments last Sunday morning.
According to investigators, the sequence of troubling events unfolded late Friday night when Whittier was visiting a friend at the same apartment complex where both he and the victim lived. Puskar reportedly came to the apartment searching for another acquaintance but encountered Whittier instead.
During this unexpected meeting, Whittier allegedly made a sexual proposal to Puskar after initially asking her for cigarettes. Police reports indicate that Puskar strongly rejected his advances. A witness via a phone call with Whittier claimed to overhear him stating intentions to engage in sexual activities with Puskar, with her clearly audible protests in the background.
The situation escalated rapidly, and by the next morning when Puskar failed to respond to calls from concerned friends and neighbors, anxiety grew regarding her welfare. It was not until the following day that her body was discovered, presenting signs of a brutal assault.
Surveillance footage reviewed by the police captured a man, later confirmed to be Whittier, exiting the apartment complex early Saturday morning. Notably, he appeared to disguise himself by pulling his hood tightly around his face and was seen carrying a Ginger Ale box, possibly to conceal something.
An autopsy of Puskar later determined multiple stab wounds as the cause of her death, and the coroner’s report confirmed homicide. Whittier was apprehended on Wednesday following a thorough investigation. He has been held without bail and faces a court appearance slated for December 8.
Adding to the gravity of the case, court documents reveal Whittier’s past includes several violent incidents, notably including convictions for assaulting women. In a particularly heinous previous case, he was convicted of aggravated assault for imprisoning a woman and inflicting chemical burns.
Pamela Puskar, remembered by members of the Latrobe Ladies Auxiliary at American Legion Post #515 as a cherished community member known for her crossword puzzle expertise and charitable efforts, leaves behind a community grappling with the shock and grief of the violent circumstances surrounding her death.
As the investigation continues, police are diligently gathering more evidence and conducting further interviews to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the incident. The tragedy has cast a shadow over the Loyalhanna Apartments, leaving many residents concerned and troubled by the violence that unfolded in their normally peaceful community.