Jury Finds Woman Accused In Elderly Neighbor's Murder Guilty On All Counts
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – After just a few hours of deliberations, a jury has convicted a Washington County woman on all counts for her role in connection with the death of her elderly neighbor.
Diane McClelland was charged with conspiring with her husband and stepson in the 2011 murder of 92-year-old Evelyn Stepko.
"We're very happy because she, she deserves everything that she gets because she was right there with her husband and with her stepson," said Dolores Sprowls. "She took the money just like her husband and her stepson took. They should have never done that to Aunt Evelyn."
The prosecution ended its case with a summary of the money allegedly spent by Diane McClelland and her family not long after Stepko reported robberies and burglaries of the cash she kept in her Coal Center home.
For example, in March of 2011 – just a few months before she died – Stepko reported $10,000 missing.
Within a few days, investigators say both Diane McClelland and her husband, David, were at the Meadows gambling in volumes totaling $2,000 to $3,000.
In all, prosecutors say the family spent $56,000 on two cars, $33,000 on guns and other purchases and $14,000 on for a house for their son, David J. McClelland.
He, as a former police officer, has yet to go to trial.
Diane McClelland's husband, David A. McClelland, pleaded guilty to the stabbing death of Stepko. He is serving a life sentence.
She chose not to testify in her own defense.
She faces a possible sentence of 37 to 74 years in prison.
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