Alysha Riggans, 30, and Terry Newland, 58, have been charged with the murder of 71‑year‑old Ralph Brown, a homeowner in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, after they allegedly refused to leave his property and then killed him in a dispute over money. The pair were living with Brown at his Crow Avenue home but had effectively turned into unwanted long‑term occupants who would not move out, even after he asked them to leave months earlier.
How the killing unfolded
Authorities say Riggans and Newland were in a financial argument with Brown when they decided to kill him and steal his money. According to Riggans’ own account, when Brown returned home on April 1, she saw Newland stab Brown in the neck with a knife and then beat his head with a table. The pair then allegedly tied a bag around Brown’s head, bound his feet with cords, and hid his body in the basement for two days.
Early Saturday morning, they reportedly wrapped Brown’s body in a blanket and dumped it along an active railway near Kerr Street. His remains were discovered on Sunday and later identified, at which time police also linked the defendants to fraudulent withdrawals from Brown’s bank accounts.
Charges and court status
Both Riggans and Newland have been charged with:
- Criminal homicide
- Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence
- Abuse of a corpse
Riggans also faces additional charges for theft by unlawfully using an access device (such as a bank card or PIN) to obtain money or services. Investigators found blood and other forensic evidence inside Brown’s home when they arrived, and the pair were arrested and arraigned on Monday. They have been denied bail and are scheduled to return to court on April 20.
