Cambria County man charged with criminal homicide after wife's death at Pittsburgh burn unit | TribLIVE.com
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Cambria County man charged with criminal homicide after wife's death at Pittsburgh burn unit

The (Johnstown, Pa.) Tribune-Democrat
| Thursday, September 10, 2020 10:36 a.m.
Metro Creative

A woman pulled from her burning home in Upper Yoder Township last month has died, and her husband has been charged with criminal homicide, authorities said.

Cambria County detectives charged Gregory Z. Clem, 64, who was arraigned Wednesday.

Detectives allege that Clem set fire to the couple’s home on Aug. 24.

Sheila A. Clem, 59, was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital, where she died Saturday. Investigators said that Gregory Clem admitted to setting a table on fire inside the home.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Sheila Clem and her family during this terribly tragic and sad time,” District Attorney Greg Neugebauer said. “My office is committed to prosecuting domestic violence and seek justice in all cases.

According to a criminal complaint, a fire broke out at 10:18 p.m., trapping the woman inside.

The woman called 911, saying her husband had set the fire.

Firefighters found the woman against the wall inside the home “gasping for air, suffering from severe burns all over her body,” the complaint said.

Sheila Clem was taken to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown and then airlifted to a burn unit in Pittsburgh.

The woman was placed on a ventilator with second- and third-degree burns covering 85% of her body, the complaint said.

Clem later told authorities that he told his wife to get out because he was going to burn down the house.

Clem said he “did pour gasoline on the dining room table and did light it,” the complaint said. Clem stated that he did not know if Sheila Clem was still in the house when he started the fire.

The Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death to be sequelea of thermal and inhalation injuries. The death was ruled homicide.

Clem also faces arson, aggravated arson, causing a catastrophe and reckless endangerment charges.

Clem is being held without bond in Cambria County Prison. The investigation included state, county and local authorities, Neugebauer said.


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