Preliminary hearings were held today for the eight suspects involved in the killing of a West Wheatfield Township man.
The eight suspects are 21-year-old Issac Buchkowski, 18-year-old Mia Catalfano, 18-year-old Taylyn Edwards, 20-year-old Thomas Rivera, 18-year-old Summer Settlemeyer, 18-year-old Jesse Lee Wadsworth and 14-year-old Harmony Hayward, all of Johnstown, along with 21-year-old Desean Alvarez of Hammond, Indiana. All eight face charges of criminal homicide, kidnapping and aggravated assault along with conspiracy to each of those charges in the death of Hayden Gareffa on October 20th, 2022, while Edwards faces an additional charge of statutory sexual assault.
Court officials say the hearings for Catalfano and Hayward were waived and both will head to trial. Meanwhile, the hearings for the other six suspects were held. All charges were moved to the Court of Common Pleas and the suspects now await formal arraignment which, according to District Attorney Bob Manzi, has not been scheduled yet.
