Police charge 3rd person in murder of Armstrong County man in Arnold alley last June

A third person has been charged in the murder of an Armstrong County man in a drug deal gone bad in Arnold last year, police Chief Eric Doutt said Wednesday.

Santyna Marie Bennett, 26, of Arnold is or was the girlfriend of Allen Duwayne Herring, 33, of Braddock, who is accused of shooting Gregory Ray Wynkoop, 35, of East Franklin on June 28.

Bennett is charged with homicide, robbery and conspiracy. She was denied bail Wednesday.

Police arrested Bennett on unrelated charges Tuesday after she allegedly sold 18 packets of heroin to an informant. Her bail in that case was set at $50,000.

Police charged Bennett with child endangerment in addition to drug offenses. Police said three children younger than 10 were in her home, where narcotics were in plain view on a living room table.

Herring was arrested first, July 8, following a search. He is charged with murder, robbery, conspiracy and firearms violations.

Police filed charges against Bailey Ann Hines, 25, on Aug. 12. She was arrested without incident two days later in Butler Township, Butler County, police said. Hines is charged with murder, robbery and conspiracy.

Herring, Hines and Bennett were all being held Wednesday in the Westmoreland County Prison in Hempfield.

Hearing notices for Herring and Hines were last issued in January, and continuances were granted for both in February.

According to court records, Hines told investigators Wynkoop picked up her and Bennett because he wanted to buy crack or cocaine.

Police say Bennett took $70 from Wynkoop and gave it to Hines to get the drugs, and gave Hines’ cellphone number to Wynkoop.

Bennett allegedly told Herring about Wynkoop, including that he had a lot of money.

Hines allegedly told police Bennett agreed with Herring’s plan to rob Wynkoop if he couldn’t get the drugs to sell.

Police said Herring shot Wynkoop in the 1500 block of Kenva Alley, which runs between North Street and McCandless Street. Herring allegedly told Hines and Bennett he shot Wynkoop while they were wrestling for a gun as he was robbing Wynkoop.

Police found Wynkoop in his SUV, which had crashed into the back of a house in the 1500 block of Woodmont Avenue. His wallet was found nearby along with two cellphones, only one of which belonged to Wynkoop.

Wynkoop died from a single gunshot wound at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison.

Bennett allegedly told police Herring used her cellphone to talk with Hines. Herring allegedly apologized to Bennett for losing her cellphone during the robbery.

Within a few hours of the shooting, Herring and Bennett allegedly gave Hines $300 of the money taken from Wynkoop.

Police are continuing to investigate the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Arnold police at 724-339-9663.