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    Court docs: Lancaster County murder victim cooperated with police in MD shooting investigation

    By Jared Weaver,

    18 hours ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Y7yJs_0wD5x7k300

    (WHTM) — A man who was cooperating with police in a shooting investigation was killed and had his body tossed over a Maryland bridge by three people, two of them his cousins, who are all facing murder charges, court documents show.

    The three men, Steven Gaddis of Nottingham, PA, Jeremy Absher of South Carolina, and Alexander Whisman of Lancaster County, all face murder, kidnapping, drug delivery resulting in death and other charges in the death of Matthew Whisman , 25, of East Drumore Township, according to court docs.

    Three men charged for Lancaster County murder after victim’s body likely dumped off bridge, State Police say

    The charges show that while Gaddis was going through Matthew’s phone, he saw a message about Matthew cooperating in a shooting, where Gaddis allegedly shot at Matthew’s brothers’ home in Maryland.

    Matthew was then taken into a bathroom/laundry room, where he was beaten, and then forced to take a shower to clean himself up. Gaddis allegedly put Fentanyl in two syringes that were later injected into Matthew, court docs show.

    Eventually, Matthew was forced into a vehicle, and the group drove to Maryland, while all of them, besides Gaddis, left their phones at the home. They would pull over in a wooded area where Gaddis would then inject the two syringes of Fentanyl into Matthew, State Police said in the criminal complaint.

    They then kept driving and stopped on a bridge by Conowingo Creek, which is where State Police say, Matthew, who was overdosing, was then tossed over the bridge, court docs reveal. The trio then drove back to the house in silence.

    The remains of Matthew were found by a camp counselor in August on the bank of the creek by a hiking trail. PSP was contacted by authorities in Maryland, who were aware of the missing person case. They said the clothing matched what Matthew was last wearing.

    DNA analysis showed that the remains were Matthew, Troopers said.

    Just before the murder, Matthew arrived at the home, which is where relatives lived, to spend the night. “How would you feel if it’s your last supper,” Gaddis is quoted saying to Matthew while he was eating down in the basement with the trio after the assault, State Police said. Matthew then reportedly dropped his head and cried.

    During the investigation, Gaddis’ prison cell in Chester County was searched, which led to the finding of a piece of paper that had information that helped lead to the arrests in the case, Troopers said. Numerous interviews, including other witnesses at the house that night, were conducted, and phone records regarding messages of the case were looked at.

    Matthew was reported missing to State Police in July, and that he was last seen in April.

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    The trio are also all drug users, and State Police were told that Gaddis was on methamphetamine and other drugs that night, according to court docs.

    Jeremy Absher is being held in the Lancaster County Prison without bail after being extradited from South Carolina on unrelated charges. Court records show Alexander Whisman, 17, has been held in the Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center since Oct. 3 on separate aggravated assault and firearm charges following a house party shooting.

    Gaddis, of Pocopson Township, Chester County, is currently incarcerated in Chester County Prison on unrelated charges.

    Absher and Alexander have preliminary hearings scheduled for Oct. 28 while Gaddis is waiting for one to be scheduled.

    Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.

    Comments / 1
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    columbia spy number 2
    1h ago
    some bad dudes they should be locked away quilty as charged
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