Pennsylvania authorities are currently dealing with a chilling and unsettling situation. A man named Zak Russel Moyer, 30, was taken into custody on March 25 following accusations that he committed a deadly assault on his neighbor, Edward Whitehead Jr.
The police affidavit, obtained by E! News, states that Moyer was wearing a mask and costume resembling the character from the Scream movie.
Victim Struck with Knife and Chainsaw
According to the criminal complaint filed March 26, Pennsylvania State Police responded to complaints of an ongoing assault on March 25 by showing up at a Lehighton Borough residence in the afternoon.
When state troopers arrived on the site, they discovered a 59-year-old male with potentially fatal injuries that seemed to be the result of a "piercing object." After being taken to the hospital, the victim who was eventually named as Whitehead Jr. was declared dead.
Trooper Anthony Petroski said that as the investigation went on, the police discovered that Whitehead Jr. had really been "struck multiple times with a knife and a battery-operated chainsaw."
Petroski made it clear to Lehigh Valley Live that they are "not looking into" the outrageous allegations.
After a while, Moyer turned himself in, switching from the "Scream" clothing he was purportedly wearing during the horrifying attack to a red hoodie.
Police records obtained by Lehigh Valley Live state that Moyer's sister informed officers that a week before the horrifying murder, he had discussed killing his neighbor. He then returned home to watch a movie while awaiting the arrival of the police, but the movie's title was withheld, according to New York Post.
Suspect in Fatal Assault Faces Homicide Charges
According to police documents, he also hidden the battery-operated chainsaw and knives that were found by authorities with the outfit. The suspect said that Moyer's red wound and the remnants of a bandage under his eye were from being struck by his purported victim.
Whitehead's niece Megan Bernosky described the crime as "mind-numbing."
"I don't think anybody has truly had it all sink in at this point. She said WNEP, "What actually happened and what happened is horrible."
After being charged with homicide before District Judge Eric Schrantz, the defendant was taken to the Carbon County Jail and is currently being detained without bond. April 3 is the date of the preliminary hearing.
Police were called back to the area the day following the arrest because of complaints that Moyer's father, Francis, was intimidating the Whitehead family.
According to LehighValleylive.com and Times New Online, officials said in court filings that Moyer fled inside the home adjacent to Whitehead's following the murder.
He stayed inside the house for a short period before police surrounded it and demanded that he come out, according to the probable cause document that Times News Online referenced.
Then, based on a neighbor's video that WFMZ investigated, he reportedly started speaking with police outside while leaving "notes" on his window.
As stated in a police complaint cited by WFMZ, Moyer reportedly accused Whitehead of crimes in the notes. A report from LehighValleylive.com, the police are not looking into the crimes Moyer is purportedly attempting to link to Whitehead.
Moyer's sister stated in court documents that he had talked about killing Whitehead for a week before the murder, as reported by WFMZ and Lehighvalleylive.com.
Online court records indicate that Moyer's arraignment is scheduled for April. As of Wednesday afternoon, there was no counsel named for him in court documents, People reported.
