Charges filed against a Derry man in connection with the death of a woman in March of 2007 will be held for court after a preliminary hearing yesterday.
52-year-old Charles Ream faces Homicide and Robbery Charges in connection with the death of 22-year-old Samantha Lang sixteen years ago at a home along Route 982 in the village of Peanut. She and her father lived in the house that police described as a hub for drug activity. At yesterday’s hearing, Timothy Smartnick of Greensburg offered testimony saying that Ream told him that “he ended up stabbing her and he didn’t get what he was looking for,” which Smartnick took to mean cash or drugs. This happened in 2009 or 2010, when they were at a hotel in Monroeville. He also told Smartnick to keep what he said a secret.
Lang was found by police on March 27th of 2007. Not only was she killed, but she was beaten, her throat was cut and a finger was broken.
State troopers also testified saying that Ream, when he was questioned, told investigators that he parked his work truck at Lang’s home the day before the body was found and went inside to buy drugs. But defense attorneys say that there was no forensic evidence was found at the scene to connect Ream to the case.
No word yet on when the trial will be held.
