LATROBE, Pa. —Authorities in Westmoreland County are investigating a homicide after a 59-year-old woman was found stabbed to death inside her apartment at the Loyalhanna Apartments in Latrobe—a crime that has shaken an otherwise quiet community.
“This is shocking and tragic for all of us here in Latrobe,” Police Chief Richard Bosco said. “This is very inconsistent with our way of life here.”
Police were called to the apartment complex throughout the day on Saturday. When they entered the unit, they discovered 59-year-old Pamela Puskar unresponsive on the floor. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“My friend told me he found her,” said Gary Hair, Puskar’s downstairs neighbor. “She was stabbed to death. I never dreamed this would happen. Pam was a very good girl. She was a nice girl.”
Her death has been ruled a homicide.
Chief Bosco emphasized that investigators do not believe the killing was random.
“It’s not a random act,” he said. “We’re 100% sure of that. Every indication right now is that these were two people who came into contact for known reasons. Something went terrifically—or horrifically—wrong between them.”
Detectives believe Puskar was killed late Friday night or early Saturday morning.
“She had been at a local establishment Friday evening,” Bosco said. “All communication with Pamela stopped sometime late Friday night into early Saturday morning.”
Neighbors recalled unusual activity that night.
“Friday night, it seemed like they were having a party,” Hair said. “I heard noises around midnight. Someone upstairs even asked, ‘Who’s that below you?’ like they didn’t know who I was.”
Westmoreland County detectives and Latrobe police are reviewing evidence and collecting surveillance footage. The district attorney’s office has released two images of a person of interest believed to be local but not a resident of the building.
“He appears to be in his mid-50s to early 60s,” Bosco said. “Around 160 to 180 pounds, stocky build, a small patch of white facial hair on his chin. In one photo he’s wearing a tight hooded sweatshirt, which we believe may have belonged to the victim.”
Investigators also noted that a ginger ale box seen in the footage may have been used to conceal something.
“It looks like something is shoved under his clothing,” Bosco added.
Authorities are urging residents and business owners with surveillance systems to check footage from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday and report anything that might help track the man’s path.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Westmoreland County Detective Bureau at 724-830-3287 or the Latrobe Police Department at 724-537-5526.
Officials stress they do not believe the public is in danger.
“If we thought there was a threat, we would alert the community immediately,” Bosco said.
Investigators confirmed they know who the person of interest is but are not releasing his name at this time.
