INDIANA, Pa. — An Indiana County man was ordered to stand trial on charges that he killed his two young daughters and his estranged wife after state police testified that he confessed to the crimes.
District Judge Guy Haberl ordered that Lewis Paul Beatty, 41, be held for court on three counts of homicide.
Lewis Beatty, 41, of Home, is also charged with arson and animal cruelty because he allegedly set fire to his home, where the girls were killed, and his wife's new residence, and also fatally shot the family's pet pony, goat and dog.
Indiana County District Attorney Patrick Dougherty said his office will deicde soon if they plan to seek the death penalty.
"Death penalty cases are long and they are cost intensive. I want to make sure the victim’s family is on-board for everything that is included in a death penalty case,” Dougherty said.
According to police, Beatty choked and slit the throat of his 6-year-old daughter, Sara, after she mentioned her mother was dating another man, beginning the killing spree on June 1.
Police believe Beatty similarly killed 11-year-old Amanda when she came home, before driving to the home of his estranged wife, Christine, whom he choked before slashing her throat.
Beatty’s preliminary hearing was moved to the Indiana County Courthouse where security was tightened in the courtroom.
Trooper Timothy Frew, deputy fire marshal, testified that there were multiple points of origin for the fires at both homes. Frew had ruled both fires arson.
Investigating Trooper Timothy Lipniskis testified that he interviewed Beatty at about 1:30 a.m. on June 2, and Beatty confessed to the slayings and to setting the houses on fire.
He also admitted to shooting the family’s pony, dog and goat, Lipniskis said.
Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE contributed to this report.
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