A Pennsylvania man convicted of the brutal murder of a pregnant Amish woman and her unborn child was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison.
The ruling that underscores the sanctity of both born and unborn lives.
Shawn Cranston, 53, of Corry, Pennsylvania, received the sentences Monday in Crawford County Court for the February 2024 killing of 23-year-old Rebekah Byler and her unborn child. The convictions included first-degree murder for Byler’s death and second-degree murder for her unborn baby, reflecting the recognition of the unborn child as a distinct victim.
“This defendant committed a truly evil act, and is now held fully accountable as he will spend the rest of his life behind bars without an opportunity to ever again harm another person in free society,” said Attorney General Dave Sunday, whose office prosecuted the case.
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Byler, a mother of two young children who were present but unharmed during the attack, was found dead in her Sparta Township home with multiple throat wounds and a gunshot to the head. Prosecutors said Cranston targeted Byler’s home for a burglary and, upon encountering her, killed her and her unborn child. The prosecution presented compelling evidence, including Cranston’s DNA on a glove fragment, matching shoe prints and tire treads, and GPS data placing his vehicle at the scene.
Judge Francis Schultz, addressing Cranston during sentencing, condemned the heinous nature of the crime.
“You’ve ruined lives,” Schultz said. “You deserve every second of the sentence I’m about to give.”
He emphasized that Cranston could have left the home without violence, stating, “All you had to do was leave. What you did was just awful when you decided to kill Rebekah and that child.”
The consecutive life sentences for the murders of Byler and her unborn child highlight the court’s acknowledgment of the profound loss of two lives. Schultz explicitly stated that “no commutation of this sentence should ever occur,” ensuring Cranston remains imprisoned for life without parole.
Six members of the Amish community attended the sentencing but did not provide oral impact statements, consistent with their traditions. However, Byler’s parents submitted written letters to the court, which Schultz reviewed before imposing the sentence.
Pro-life advocates have pointed to the case as a powerful affirmation of the value of unborn life, with the court’s recognition of the unborn child as a separate victim in the second-degree murder charge. The sentencing also included concurrent terms of six to 20 years for burglary and 10 months to seven years for criminal trespass, along with $20,000 in fines for the murders.
“My thoughts are with the victim’s family, whose quiet strength throughout the process has been inspiring,” Sunday said, commending the Amish community’s resilience.
Cranston, who appeared in court unshaven and shackled, declined to address the judge and indicated he would seek public defender representation, suggesting a possible appeal. The case, referred to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office by the Crawford County District Attorney, has drawn attention for its tragic impact on the close-knit Amish community and its broader implications for justice.
