By Michael Hasch

Published: Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 4:16 p.m.
Updated: Wednesday, January 30, 2013

The man accused of fatally beating a McKees Rocks clothing designer and community activist told a witness that he did so because the victim “robbed” him of some marijuana, according to a criminal complaint unsealed on Wednesday.

Sean Overton, 19, is charged with homicide in the death of Isaiah Dent, 61, whose body was found Monday morning inside his home in the Hays Manor housing project, Allegheny County Police Lt. Andrew Schurman said.

Overton, who has ties to the West End and McKees Rocks, was arrested without incident Wednesday at his mother's home in the Moon Crest housing complex in Moon, he said.

Schurman said it appeared that Dent was badly beaten. An autopsy showed he died of head injuries, a spokesman for the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office said.

Police say the charges were filed based upon two phone conversations that a witness apparently had with Overton.

“During the brief (first) phone call, (Overton) mentioned that he had settled some ‘unfinished business' with Isaiah Dent,” the complaint states.

About an hour later, police say, the witness received a second call.

“Overton told (the witness) that he killed Dent because Dent ‘robbed' him of some weed,” the complaint states. “Overton also stated that Dent shortchanged him on cash after he bought marijuana.”

Dent was president of the Hays Manor tenant council. Community activists have praised him for trying to improve the community.

Michael Hasch is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7820 or at mhasch@tribweb.com.

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