Butler Co. Kidnapping Suspect Found Dead Of Apparent Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound
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SLIPPERY ROCK (KDKA) -- A kidnapping suspect from Butler County was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after a police chase Friday.
State police had been searching for 52-year-old John O'Leary, of Munhall, for allegedly kidnapping a woman from a campground.
The car O'Leary had been driving was towed away early Friday Night in Greenfield.
"I never dreamed in a million years," said Hannah Dobish, who witnessed the crash. "It was a very big bang sound. The next thing I saw a car was coming full speed from Federal Hill and banged into the wall there. The next thing I saw many police come out within gunpoint. My husband said get in the car, duck down we do not know what to do."
Police broke the glass, pulled O'Leary out of the car and tried to revive him, but it was too late.
"He either crashed his car and shot himself or died from self-inflicted gunshot wound before he crashed his car," said spokesperson Cara Cruz with Pittsburgh Police.
Investigators say O'Leary allegedly kidnapped his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint from the Slippery Rock Campground in Worth Township. He's also accused of threatening to kill her.
She was able to escape from him.
"He has also made threats to various people that he is planning on killing our victim and then killing himself," Pennsylvania State Police Sergeant Richard Fennell said.
Watch Paul Martino's report --
Police believe O'Leary then set the woman's Irwin home on fire Friday afternoon. It's believed no one was inside.
"It's our belief that our suspect in yesterday's events set that fire, so again, that's why this is an arson," Fennell said.
O'Leary began leading police on a chase in the Greenfield area later Friday afternoon.
#BREAKING: Butler County kidnapping suspect found dead of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after a police chase that ended in Greenfield. John O'Leary crashed his car in front of a home. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/sEdbqBYBfi
— Amy Wadas (@AmyWadas) March 29, 2019
He eventually crashed and was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.
O'Leary has previously served 10 to 20 years for criminal homicide in the 1980s.
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