Man accused of hacking Erie woman charged with 1st-degree murder

Murder arrest: Robert Lee Kessler, 69, of Lutz, Fla., is accused of killing and dismembering Stephanie Crone-Overholts, 47, of Erie, Penn. Crone-Overholts had recently moved to Tampa and was staying with Kessler when she vanished, authorities said. (Tampa Police Department)

By Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida grand jury indicted a man on first-degree murder charges after police say he killed a Pennsylvania woman and dumped her dismembered body into a bay.

The Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office said it had obtained an indictment against 69-year-old Robert Kessler. He had been charged with second-degree murder for last month’s death of earlier of 47-year-old Stephanie Crone-Overholts of Erie, Pennsylvania.

A fisherman spotted body parts belonging to her in McKay Bay. Police released photos of her tattoo: three hearts including the name of her son. The photos went viral online and made their way back to her family in Pennsylvania where she had been reported missing.

The relationship between Kessler and Crone-Overholts was unclear.

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