Murder, arson trial for Jeannette man delayed until January

The trial of a Jeannette man accused of setting a blaze that killed an elderly woman last year was pushed back to January.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio on Friday agreed to delay the trial for Brian Eric Rendon after defense attorneys said they needed more time before the case is presented to a jury.

Rendon, 35, is accused of setting the fire on April 9, 2018, that destroyed a group of row homes on South Seventh Street in Jeannette. Shirley Kocherhans, 87, was found dead inside her row house. A woman who lived with her was injured. About a dozen residents were left homeless as a result of the blaze. Rendon is charged with homicide in addition to numerous other offenses, including arson, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.

He also faces a separate arson charge in connection with a blaze set two days earlier at his Jeannette home. No one was injured as a result of that fire.

In July, Rendon was ruled competent to stand trial.

Assistant Public Defender Jack Mandarino said Friday the defense needs to secure and review Rendon’s Social Security and psychological records before the trial. The judge ordered defense attorneys to turn over those records to the prosecution before January’s trial.