By RODNEY L. SHERMAN
Clarion News Editor
The ongoing investigation into the death of a 28-year-old Callensburg woman has led to the arrest of three Rimersburg residents on drug-related charges.
Matthew T. Hoover, 46; Wendy R. Fross, 40; and Jennifer Marie Elder, 23, (address also listed as Petrolia) were charged at District Judge Jeff Miller’s New Bethlehem office.
Kayla Dunlap’s body was found at about 10:30 a.m. Sept. 17 along the west side of Lake Road in Oakland Township, Butler County. The area is near the Oneida Valley reservoir.
“Based on the evidence at the scene, it is believed that Dunlap was left on the side of the road after she died in a different location,” police said in court documents.
A perimortem (at or near the time of death) contusion was observed on or around Dunlap’s eye and a defensive hand wound also was noted during an autopsy.
Dunlap’s background information led police to interview several of her known associates.
State police went to 116 Main St. in Rimersburg to conduct interviews with the residents of the home because Dunlap was known to stay at the residence recently. Investigators allege that Hoover, Fross and Elder all resided at or stayed at the home.
During interviews with the occupants of the home, it was related to police there is drug use and activity at the residence, “to include overdoses.”
During the interviews at the Rimersburg residence, police observed a white Ford F-150 truck in the back yard.
Police allege that when Dunlap’s body was found there was a black vinyl strap near her. Police allege a similar strap was observed hanging over the headrest of the passenger seat in the truck.
The truck was registered to Rae Hoover, who was identified as Matthew Hoover’s mother.
During the interviews, police alleged they were told Matthew Hoover, Fross and Elder all had access to and used the truck.
Police obtained a search warrant for the truck, and in the rear of the truck they allegedly found three garbage bags containing household waste and other items. Police dumped the contents of each bag onto a separate tarp.
Hoover, Fross and Elder were all charged with manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy-manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of phenylpropanolamine with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, operating a methamphetamine lab, illegal dumping of chemical waste, knowingly possessing ephedrine, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
All three of the defendants were placed in the Clarion County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
Online court records show Fross was charged earlier this year with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. She posted $1,000 bail and was released from the county jail on Sept. 11.
Butler state police are trying to put together the hours before Dunlap’s death and determine who left her body near the lake along Route 38 north of Butler.
No charges in connection with Dunlap’s death have been filed.
