Motions hearings are on the docket today for Indiana County’s Court of Common Pleas, including one for one of the suspects in the killing of Hayden Gareffa.
Court documents show 22-year-old Thomas Allen Rivera of Johnstown will have a hearing on a motion to join his case to others in connection with Gareffa’s death. He along with Desean Alvarez, Isaac Buchkoski, Mia Catafano, Taylyn Edwards, Summer Settlemyer, Jesse Wadsworth and an unidentified 14-year-old kidnapped Gareffa on October 20th of 2022. Two days later, Gareffa’s body was found in an area of high grass along an access road near Onedia Mine Road in Brush Valley Township, about two miles away from his grandmother’s home from where he was taken. An autopsy showed that he was stabbed multiple times.
Rivera is charged with criminal homicide, kidnapping to aid a felony, kidnapping to inflict injury, aggravated assault and conspiracy to each count.
Alvarez, Catalfano and Wadsworth are due for a criminal call hearing on March 7th, while Buchkoski is due for his own motions hearing on February 18th. Taylyn Edwards pleaded guilty but mentally ill to a charge of criminal homicide and was ordered to serve life in prison on June 9th. She is due in court on February 12th for a Post Conviction Relief Act hearing. Jury selection for Summer Settlemyer is scheduled for March 24th.
