An Oil City man is facing charges after being accused of removing police tape from the scene of a homicide investigation and otherwise tampering with the property.
Nector Vasquez, 60, was interviewed by Oil City police as part of their investigation into the death of Brierlie Walters, 39, whose body was found in a 55-gallon drum in a residence at 12 Mineral St. on March 5, according to a criminal complaint filed by police.
Brandon Wells, 45, also of Oil City, has been charged with homicide in connection to Walters’ death.
In the complaint charging Wells, the babysitter was identified as Vasquez.
The second time police interviewed him, Vasquez had a different statement “regarding information and knowledge he had of the incident” as well as giving officers “physical evidence” belonging to Wells, the complaint against Vasquez said.
On Wednesday, a woman told police that Vasquez had received a letter from Wells, which instructed Vasquez to “complete certain tasks,” including traveling to the 12 Mineral St. residence to remove the police tape from around the house and to get items from inside the residence, the complaint against Vasquez said.
When police went to the residence, they found the crime scene tape had been removed and the garage, which previously was not secured, had been secured, the complaint against Vasquez said.
Vasquez has been charged with misdemeanor counts of obstruct administration of law/other government function, tamper with/fabricate physical evidence and defiant trespass actual communication to.
He was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Andrew Fish.
Vasquez’s preliminary hearing is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. April 20 in Central Court.
