Arrest in death of man found in suitcase near Philadelphia airport
MEDIA, Pa. - A man faces murder charges in the beating and stabbing death of another man whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase near Philadelphia International Airport last month, authorities said.
Prosecutors and police said Thomas Brennan, 25, of Folsom was arrested Sunday and charged in Philadelphia in the death of Scott Bernheisel, 41, whose body was found by a man walking his dog May 28 in Tinicum Township, Delaware County. An autopsy determined that Bernheisel died of multiple blunt force injuries as well as a stab wound to the neck, authorities said.
Officials in Delaware County said township police found out that the victim had been staying in a south Philadelphia house where Brennan also has periodically stayed. Investigators who went there were told that a sleeping bag left at the residence was gone as was an old suitcase used to store Christmas decorations. Another person who was shown a photograph of the suitcase that had contained the body said it was the same suitcase that had been in the closet at the home.
Prosecutors say Brennan killed Bernheisel on May 22 and stored his body in a sleeping bag in the closet before putting it in a suitcase and dumping it in the neighboring county. A woman was also charged with robbery and hindering apprehension, obstruction of justice and related counts in the case, Philadelphia police said.
Brennan faces charges of murder, robbery, criminal conspiracy, abuse of a corpse and related offenses, police said.