Police: Footprints in snow lead investigators to Scott Twp. burglary suspects

SCOTT TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Scott Township police arrested two burglary suspects Tuesday with the help of footprints officers examined in the snow.

Authorities told Channel 11's Renee Kaminski that they were called to Roxanne Kessler's home in Scott Township after she got home and realized she had been burglarized.

"When I came home, my window was open about 4 inches. I came over to the door and it was unlocked. I screamed, ran and called 911," Kessler said.

While investigating the scene, detectives said, they saw a man, later identified as Brian Butt, walk out of the house next door with large Timberland boots on. The officers said the boots appeared to match the large footprints outside the burglarized house.

"He had large boots that matched the footprints in the snow," Scott Township Police Sgt. Jeff Skees said. "The prints led right behind the house, right to the window that was entered."

Investigators said they went to Grant Goekler's home next door to question him and Butt about the burglary, and the two men eventually admitted to the crime.

Police said there was a 90-pound pit bull at Goekler's door when officers arrived, and Goekler had to restrain it before the officers could enter.

During questioning, police said, one of the men also admitted to burglarizing the home of an older woman in the neighborhood. The officers said the woman didn't know she had been burglarized until they told her.

The items recovered from the two burglaries included jewelry, electronics, coins and a loaded gun.

WPXI