A Pennsylvania man was charged with criminal homicide after reportedly attempting to pass off his friend’s stabbing death as suicide.
Chase Steigerwald, 34, is presently in custody in Clarion County Jail after police say he killed 45-year-old Rachel Roman, who was discovered dead at Steigerwald’s residence on November 5. According to a criminal complaint received by local news outlet Explore Jefferson PA, Steigerwald and an unnamed woman were outside his home when police arrived. Steigerwald told authorities that he and the woman went on a walk and when they returned, they discovered Roman had died inside.
The anonymous woman later told police a totally different account.
According to the complaint, the woman informed police that she was in another room when she heard “gurgling/choking noises coming from the living room.” She went to investigate what was going on and came upon Steigerwald, who was packing his backpack and about to depart. Roman lay on the floor, bleeding. He told the woman that they “needed to leave,” and she mentioned that she had to step over a futon to avoid treading across Roman’s blood.
Police claimed video cameras saw the couple leaving the house at 5:05 a.m. and returning at 6:38 a.m. While the two were out, they went around the area, and Steigerwald allegedly informed the lady that he intended to make Roman’s death “look like a suicide.”
After they returned to Steigerwald’s flat, the woman told police that she saw him place a knife on the floor in Roman’s hand so he could obtain her fingerprints on it. She also claims she observed him hide a vial of methamphetamine in the couch where Roman had previously sat.
A witness who was at a party at Steigerwald’s apartment the night before reported seeing Roman, alive and sitting on the couch, approximately 11 p.m. Around the same time, another witness who was on a FaceTime call with Steigerwald reported seeing him holding the identical type of fixed-blade knife discovered near Roman’s body. The same witness reported hearing Steigerwald argue with Roman throughout the call.
Police claimed Roman texted a coworker at 11:39 p.m. According to the criminal complaint, the coworker’s response, sent at 12:20 a.m., was not sent, indicating that Roman’s phone had been turned off.
When authorities spoke with a neighbor, they reported that there was a loud party going on at Steigerwald’s house until before midnight, when the noise suddenly ceased and it became “very quiet.”
When authorities questioned Steigerwald, he said the knife they recovered was his and he used it for hunting. He allegedly admitted to smoking molly before calling 911 on November 5 morning.
Investigators discovered blood in many spots throughout the house, including the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, and a container of Dawn dishwashing soap. They also apparently discovered the methamphetamine.
An examination on Roman’s remains revealed that she had stab wounds to her face, chest, arm and hand. Her cause of death was a deadly stab wound to the neck.
Steigerwald was arrested on drug charges a few days after Roman’s body was discovered. He was charged with criminal homicide on Tuesday, and the drug charge was dismissed. He is still being held without bond at the Clarion County Jail. His next court date is scheduled for December 2.
