The Corry man charged with killing a pregnant Amish mother has been ordered to stand trial.

The ruling was handed down following Friday's preliminary hearing of 53-year-old Shawn Cranston.

Cranston will now face trial, in connection to the deaths of 23-year-old Rebekah Byler and her unborn child.

During the five-hour hearing, Crawford County District Attorney Paula DiGiacomo called 15 people to the stand to testify, including Byler's husband Andy Byler.

On the morning of February 26, Mr. Byler testified that his wife was doing laundry, when he was picked up by family friend Julie Warner, to go look for roofing jobs in Saegertown.

When Warner dropped him back off at his home on Fish Flats Road, Mr. Byler said he discovered his wife's body.

According to police, she suffered from wounds to her throat and head.

The Byler's three-year-old son and two-year-old daughter were home at the time of the crime.

"I went home. Kids came out. Told me what happened," said Mr. Byler. "I went back out, told Julie to call 911."

Mr. Byler told the courtroom that he does not know Cranston.

When asked by DiGiacomo if anything unusual happened prior to his wife's death, Mr. Byler said that several weeks prior, a man stopped by their house one night.

"We were in bed," said Mr. Byler. "Somebody was running into our barn. I asked what he wanted. He said he wanted to buy the house."

Mr. Byler said the man told him he'd be back the next morning, but never showed up.

When asked by DiGiacomo if he saw that man in the courtroom, Byler said yes, but he was not 100 percent sure. He then pointed to Cranston.

Warner also took the stand, and was questioned about what she witnessed on the morning of Rebekah's death.

"Andy came running out when I was in the barn and said my wife is dead," said Warner. "He kept saying what am I going to do? She was on the floor."
Warner said the Byler's two children were playing with toys in the dining room.

She then called 911.

"I went into the inside door and told the kids to come to me," said Warner. "I went back in and I got to her (Rebekah), and I told her (911 operator) I couldn't do it (check her pulse) but I can tell she's cold."

Throughout the hearing, DiGiacomo presented 40 pieces of evidence, many of which focused on a red Jeep Patriot which prosecutors say is owned by Cranston.

Some of the witnesses testified that they saw the Jeep parked outside of the Byler's home on the morning of Rebekah's death.

A trooper who conducted an analysis on Cranston's cell phone and GPS data from Crantson's Jeep also testified.

Based on his investigation, the trooper found that Cranston's Jeep was parked in the Byler's driveway, while his cell phone was in the area on the day of Rebekah's death.

During the hearing, Crawford County public defender Gary Kern--who is representing Cranston--asked a state trooper during cross-examination if police have recovered any firearms or cutting instruments in connection to the crime.

The trooper said they are still in the process of trying to locate that evidence, so Kern asked for the charges to be dismissed.

However, Titusville District Judge Amy Nicols bound all charges against Cranston over for trial.