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Man accused of killing aunt, mother in Beaver County

A New Sewickley Township man was accused of killing his aunt and mother and holding his grandmother hostage Saturday, June 24, in a New Sewickley Township home in Beaver County — near the Butler County border.

Benjamin D. Selby, 43, was charged with two counts of homicide and one count of kidnapping for ransom in connection to the deaths of Dolores H. Selby, 71, of New Sewickley Township, and Mary Ann Lihosit, 65, of Irving, Texas.

Police said Selby’s grandmother, 92-year-old Dolores McClain, was found inside the residence uninjured. McClain was safely removed from the residence and transported to a local hospital for an evaluation.

Selby was placed in Beaver County Prison and denied bail. His postal address is Zelienople, but he resides in New Sewickley Township, Beaver County.

Police said they were dispatched to a home at 2:52 p.m. on Klein Road, New Sewickley Township, where the caller reported hearing “15 shots” fired and a woman groaning on the ground.

Documents show that the caller told officers Benjamin Selby had shot at least one person, and that he was unsure of the whereabouts of two other people in the residence. Police said the home was barricaded when they arrived.

Beaver County Emergency Service Unit responded and forcibly entered the residence when it was discovered there was a hostage inside, documents showed.

Dolores Selby and Lihosit were found dead of apparent gunshot wounds, police said, and Dolores McClain was found uninjured next to one of the deceased.

Police said McClain was held for 90 minutes after the initial shooting, and that law enforcement were prevented from entering the residence to aid her.

Benjamin Selby was taken into custody at the scene, police said.

“The initial response by our officers and officers from assisting departments quickly contained this incident within the residence,” the New Sewickley Police Department said in a Monday news release. “The quick and decisive action of the initial responding officers prevented Benjamin Selby from leaving the residence and prevented any additional injuries to anyone involved in this incident.

“The commendable actions of these officers ensured that no neighbors or members of the public were ever placed in any danger.”

New Sewickley Township police were assisted at the scene by officers from Cranberry Township, Economy Borough, Marion Township and Rochester Township police departments.

Additional assistance was provided by the Big Knob Fire Department, Beaver County Behavioral Health, Cranberry Ambulance Service, Medic Rescue Ambulance Service and the Beaver County Detective Bureau.

Selby’s preliminary hearing is scheduled July 3 before Beaver County District Judge Robert Dappenbrook.

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