4 homicide victims in Clearfield County in 2017

CLEARFIELD - Officials said there were four homicide victims in Clearfield County in 2017.

"We ended 2017 with a higher than normal number of intentional deaths," Clearfield County District Attorney Bill Shaw said.

According to statistics from the Clearfield County Coroner, there were only two active homicides from 2000-2011, two in 2012, three in 2013, zero in 2014, three in 2015 and one in 2016.

“It’s a trend that we don’t like to see," Coroner Mike Morris said. "From 2000 to 2011, there were two and now we’re averaging two per year instead of two every 10 years.”

All four of 2017's homicides took place the last half of the year.

Officials said late Aug., human remains were found in a wooded area in Pike Township. Authorities later identified them as 19-year-old Chase Anderson.

"The Anderson investigation is ongoing," Shaw said. "Charges are anticipated. I am hopeful that we’ll get those charges filed early in Jan."

Police said Dustin Thomas shot and killed Brett Bamat at a home in Morris Township on Oct. 30. Shaw said Thomas is awaiting trial.

“It’s an alarming trend for Clearfield County," Moriss said. "We are a small county. It’s a place that 15-years-ago, you didn’t have to lock your doors and now we’re seeing the same problems cities have. We are having drug problems, overdose deaths and obviously, an increase in homicides.”

State police said Cody Bush shot and killed Victoria and Beth Schultz, injured another woman and then took his own life in Osceola Mills on Nov. 24. Shaw said charges can't be filed when it's a homicide-suicide.

“It’s a larger number than we’re typically required to handle so it stretches the resource of the office, it stretches the budget of the office to accommodate these cases but we’re going to get through it," Shaw said.

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