State police announced the arrest of eight individuals connected with the kidnapping and murder of a 19-year-old man from the Dilltown Area.
State Police Public Information Officer Cliff Greenfield announced the arrest of seven adults and one juvenile who are all charged with kidnapping in connection with the death of Hayden Garreffa, with criminal homicide charges possibly coming later on. Those suspects are:
- 21-year-old Desean Garcia Alvarez of Hammond, Indiana
- 21-year-old Issac Joel Buchkoski of Johnstown
- 18-year-old Mia Shai Catafano, of Johnstown
- 18-year-old Taylyn Nayshell Edwards of Johnstown
- 20-year-old Thomas Alan Rivera of Johnstown
- 18-year-old Summer Isabella Settlemeyer of Johnstown
- 18-year-old Jesse Lee Wadsworth of Johnstown
- And a 14-year-old girl from Johnstown, whose name was not released due to her age.
Police say the eight went to Garreffa’s grandmother’s home on Route 403 on October 20th to kidnap him. They allegedly used a red van that was later recovered by police. Two days later, Garreffa’s body was found about two miles from his grandmother’s house in the tall weeds and brush along an access road near Oneida Mine Road in Brush Valley Township. He was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy revealed that he was stabbed multiple times. The eight suspects are now in police custody.
Greenfield said that this killing was planned by the eight suspects.
Greenfield said the investigation is on-going and anyone with information is asked to contact the state police at 724-357-1960.
