Hilliards woman charged with homicide
A Hilliards woman arrested Monday, March 20, in the fatal shooting of a West Sunbury man said he physically assaulted her at her home in Venango Township earlier that day.
Jessica L. Callahan, 19, was charged with felony criminal homicide and placed in Butler County Prison without bail. She is accused of shooting Tyler J. Whitlatch, 31, in the back, state police said Tuesday. Her name was listed among 2022 graduates of Moniteau School District in a previous edition the Butler Eagle.
Police said after she shot Whitlatch at her Venango Township home she transported him to the North Washington Rodeo grounds, where he died from the wound, according to William F. Young III, Butler County coroner.
According to charging documents, Callahan contacted 911 at 3:15 p.m. Monday while driving. She told dispatchers she had shot Whitlatch at her home on Kohlmeyer Road, Venango Township, and was taking him to the rodeo grounds in Washington Township.
When police arrived at the rodeo grounds, Whitlatch was deceased.
Callahan was interviewed by officers at the Butler barracks. She said a physical altercation between herself and Whitlatch began at her home that afternoon.
Callahan told police Whitlatch shoved her into a dresser during the altercation. Police said Callahan recalled retreating to the living room, where she said Whitlatch grabbed her by the throat. Callahan told police she then grabbed a 12-gauge shotgun from behind a couch and left the residence.
Callahan told police that Whitlatch followed her outside and walked onto Kohlmeyer Road. Callahan told police she fired a shot into the air, then fired a second shot at Whitlatch, which struck him in the back. Callahan had earlier told dispatchers she had fired a “warning shot.”
Callahan drove Whitlatch from the scene and was en route to a hospital, police said, but his declining condition caused her to pull over and dial 911.
Documents showed that an autopsy was conducted on Whitlatch on Monday, March 20, night, and it was confirmed that he died from a gunshot wound to his torso.
State police said the shotgun, which was loaded with buckshot, was seized and placed in police custody.
Callahan was placed in Butler County Prison and denied bail. A preliminary hearing before District Judge Lewis Stoughton is scheduled March 28.
Jody Humes-Roenigk, who identified herself as Whitlatch’s mother on social media, defended Whitlatch.
“My son was not a violent person and would never hit or grab a female,” Humes-Roenigk wrote in a message to the Eagle.
A gofundme page for Whitlatch’s funeral expenses was started Tuesday afternoon, as of press time more than $3,000 had been raised.
“(Whitlatch) had a family and a little boy who loved him so much, and we are all at such a loss right now. We need everyone who loved (him) to pull together right now and help him be able to rest peacefully,” wrote Amber Holton, who started the fundraiser. “Nobody should have to go through losing someone to a murder.”
Those wanting to donate to Whitlatch’s family can do so by finding “Tyler Whitlatch’s Funeral Expenses” on gofundme.com.
