Two Cambria County men are behind bars as police step up their investigation into the Christmas murders of a Dauphin County woman and her daughters.
Police said the woman’s husband and his brother are behind the murders. One of them confessed to police, and now both of them are in jail, authorities said.
The bodies of Jean Wholaver and her daughters — 15-year-old Elizabeth and 20-year-old Victoria — were found Christmas Day. Victoria’s 9-month-old daughter was found unharmed.
Scott Wholaver is now facing murder charges after police said he admitted to helping his brother carry out the murders.
“Our belief is that he (Scott Wholaver) was not the actual triggerman,” District Attorney Ed Marsico said.
According to court papers, Scott Wholaver drove his brother, Ernest Wholaver, from the Johnstown area to a Middletown home, knowing Ernest Wholaver planned to kill his family. Then he waited outside while his brother allegedly shot and killed his wife and two daughters.
“This defendant did relate to us that he had heard Ernest threaten to kill other members of his family,” Marsico said.
Scott Wholaver told police minutes after the murders, Ernest Wholaver came back to the car shaking, seeming excited. Then, they concocted a lie about their whereabouts.
“We were skeptical of that from the beginning. Now, we can tell it was untrue, what they told us about their whereabouts. They were in fact in Middletown,” Marsico said.
Ernest Wholaver had been out on $100,000 bail awaiting trial on charges he sexually abused his daughters. That bail was revoked and he was taken into custody Thursday night for fear he would run. He has not been charged for the murders.
“There are certain investigative steps we want to take before any more criminal charges in this matter, Marsico said.
Police said Ernest Wholaver will be charged in the near future, probably the next few days.
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