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Vandergrift man among 2 charged after body discovered at brush fire

POLK, Pa. — A Westmoreland County man is one of two people charged in the beating death of a Venango County woman, whose body was then set on fire, police said.

Richard Kennedy, 28, of Vandergrift, is charged with homicide. He and Amanda Cypher, 32, of Franklin, are accused of killing Tausha Baker, 25, of Franklin.

Police said Kennedy and Cypher set Baker’s body on fire in an attempt to cover up her murder.

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Baker's body was found Friday when firefighters were called to a brush fire near Erie, according to WICU.

Police were searching for a maroon Ford Edge with Pennsylvania license plate KHX9391. It has been located.

Kennedy and Cypher were taken to the Venango County Prison. In addition to criminal homicide, they are charged with aggravated assault, abuse of a corpse and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.