From staff reports
MOUNT UNION - Federal, state and local officials have arrested 11 people on drug charges at a central Pennsylvania housing project that grew out of the investigation of a double murder in January.
Huntingdon County District Attorney George Zanic said that the drug investigation grew out of the murder probe.
"By all means, this does not mean that the suspects arrested (Wednesday) are involved with the murders. There will be more drug arrests made - I can promise you that," Zanic said.
State police said 22-year-old Christine McWhorter and her aunt, 33-year-old Beatrice Daniels, were found shot to death in a bed at McWhorter's apartment in the housing project on Jan. 3. McWhorter's two young children were found alive inside after her 4-year-old alerted a neighbor.
According to information provided by the Pennsylvania State Police in Huntingdon and the U.S. Attorney's Office, the following 11 individuals were arrested on Nov. 4, on federal charges. These individuals were taken into custody, transported to Harrisburg and arraigned before a United States Magistrate Judge on federal charges.
Carol A. Stodgel, 52, Betty M. Roberts, 27, Amy Dixon (age unknown), Charles LeMasters, 42, Bower C. Booher, Martin D. Booher, 37, Steven D. Kinzey, 24, and Matthew A. Wargo, 27, all of Mount Union are charge with one count each of false statements. Ralph Brotemarkle, Jr., 39, of Mount Union is charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of false statements. Alton Rinker Jr., 58, of Mount Union is charge with one count each of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and false statements. Winston Beaver, 21, of Mount Union is charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and two counts of false statements.
In addition three other individuals were indicted as well and are in custody on other charges. Their indictments are under seal until they appear before a judge in Harrisburg for arraignment on Nov. 17.
Assistant U. S. Attorney William A. Behe has been assigned the prosecution of these cases.
U. S. Attorney Dennis C. Pfannenschmidt praised the combined efforts of those who investigated the offenses and assisted in the arrests. The investigation was conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Inspector General, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Huntingdon County District Attorney's Office, the Huntingdon County Sheriffs Dept, the Huntingdon County and Mifflin County Drug Task Forces and the Huntingdon County Housing Authority.
