Man charged with homicide after body found at Westmoreland County U-Haul facility
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A body was found at a U-Haul facility in Westmoreland County on Saturday.
The Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office said a woman's body was found at the facility on Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell.
The victim has been identified as 41-year-old Kelly Steele. Her husband, 42-year-old Alfred Steele, has been charged with criminal homicide and robbery inflicting serious bodily injury. Authorities have not released a cause of death.
"This is a horrible tragedy for Ms. Steele's family and friends and Westmoreland County at large," District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said in a release.
Friends of Kelly said the couple had some issues but never anything they thought would escalate to this.
"I almost fell on the floor because I couldn't believe it, and I couldn't believe it happened the way that it did," Kim Bauman said.
"She was one of the sweetest people you'd ever meet. She wouldn't hurt anybody, she'd bend over backward to help anyone she could," she added.
Alfred is in the Westmoreland County Jail after being arraigned on Saturday night.
When officers walked him out of the police station, KDKA-TV was there. He kept his head down and had no comment. Alfred's bail was denied by the judge.
According to online paperwork, Alfred was arrested several times in the past, including one month ago. In that case, he faces felony charges for possession of drugs and intent to deliver, along with disorderly conduct.
He was also arrested again in January in Armstrong County for simple assault, resisting arrest and public drunkenness.