Hempfield woman charged with killing husband

A Hempfield man who had mobility issues was fatally shot over the weekend at his home, state police said.

Troopers on Monday charged his wife, Leeann M. Steel, 51, with homicide in connection with the death of William Steel.

Leeann Steel called 911 at 4:15 p.m. Saturday to report the shooting and seek medical attention for her husband of 29 years, according to court papers filed by police.

“She had identified herself and stated that she was in a dispute with her husband and subsequently decided to grab a firearm and discharge that firearm,” said Trooper Steve Limani. “It appears that she shot him in the chest.”

William Steel, 54, was found with a gunshot wound in a bedroom at the couple’s Merlin Lane home. He was taken to a hospital where he died, police said.

Police said when they got to Merlin Lane, Leeann Steel was in the yard of a neighboring property at the end of the secluded lane off Arona Road in the western part of the township. Troopers seized a pistol they believed was used in the shooting.

Evidence gathered at the Steel home has been sent to a lab for testing, Limani said.

“It’s going to be a lot of evidence that comes back later that will substantiate all of the different things that our investigators were able to see,” he said.

Statements that Leeann Steel made to investigators were inconsistent with evidence police gathered, Limani said. Information from those who knew William Steel indicated that he had some level of difficulty walking and typically used an assistance device, such as a walker.

There were walkers seen inside the home, Limani said.

“I believe that there was also statements about some physical abuse … however, during our investigation, there was no visible signs of any type of injuries to Mrs. Steel,” he said.

It was unclear if police had been called to the home in the past.

Neither of the Steels have a criminal record.

They were married in 1996 and the Merlin Lane property was transferred to them in 2005, according to Westmoreland County records.

Leeann Steel did not have an attorney listed in online court records. Her bail was denied Monday and she was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 30.