Man Accused Of Killing Girlfriend, Hiding Body In Woods Ordered To Stand Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A man accused in the death of his former girlfriend and then leaving her body in the woods in Somerset County has been ordered to stand trial
Jonathan Beal, 23, is charged with murdering his girlfriend and then dumping her body in a shallow grave along the Great Allegheny Passage in Larimer Township.
Justine Jackson, 19, was missing for more than two months before her body was found.
"All I can say is… that Jonathan ran into me," said Jennifer Fullem, a witness. "He told me some disturbing news that I really don't like to repeat because I couldn't believe it was true, but unfortunately it is true."
Fullem testified that she ran into Beal on a street in Meyersdale and he admitted to killing Jackson. He described kicking her in the head until she stopped breathing, then going back to bury her body.
Reporter: "Did he tell you what he did to her?"
Fullem: "Yes, he did. But I cannot repeat that either, I'm sorry."
Two VO Tech students from Meyersdale High School also took the stand. They talked to Beal at Sheetz.
One saying: "At first, he denied it. Then, he admitted it."
Beal told the witness: "That's right, I killed the (expletive)."
Another witness described asking Beal about Jackson's whereabouts: "He told me she was fine and not to worry."
Her testimony continued: "(Jackson) was in Baltimore making money to get her life going and she would call me as soon as possible."
"It does hurt. I'm a mother myself and I would hate to even imagine somebody murdering my child," added Fullem."
Beal was eventually arrested in Louisiana. He is now being held in jail without bond.
He was arraigned in November on charges of homicide, abuse of a corpse and aggravated assault.
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