Woman fatally stabbed in Latrobe apartment, image of 'person of interest' released
A woman was stabbed to death in her Latrobe apartment over the weekend, and investigators on Monday released a surveillance photo of a man they described as a person of interest.
Latrobe police and Westmoreland County detectives are investigating the death of Pamela Puskar, 59. She was found dead inside her home at Loyalhanna Apartments on Jefferson Street shortly after 7 a.m. Sunday, according to Melanie Jones, the District Attorney’s Office spokesperson.
The surveillance image shows a man wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt carrying a Canada Dry ginger ale box inside a building. His face was covered by the hood.
Latrobe police Chief Richard Bosco described the man as in his mid-50s to early 60s, of medium height with a stocky build and gray facial hair on his chin. The man might have taken something from the apartment that was hidden in his sweatshirt or in the ginger ale box, Bosco said.
“There’s evidence of a struggle,” Bosco said. “This is a situation that occurred between two persons who knew each other. For how long, we don’t know, but it’s not a random act.”
Two of Puskar’s friends found her dead in her apartment Sunday morning after failing to reach her via phone throughout the day Saturday, Bosco said. Police believe she was killed late Friday or early Saturday.
Police do not believe there is a threat to the public, Bosco said.
“This is shocking and tragic to all of us in the city of Latrobe,” he said. “This is very inconsistent with the way of life here.”
Residents of Loyalhanna Apartments told TribLive Monday afternoon that Puskar had not lived in the building long.
The Latrobe American Legion said Puskar was “kind and generous with her time and friendship” in a post on social media. The person who answered the organization’s phone declined an interview with TribLive.
“Rest in God’s arms, Pam,” the social media post reads. “We will miss you.”
Investigators are reviewing evidence and surveillance video in an effort to track the man’s movements Saturday morning. Anyone with information on his whereabouts after 7 a.m. Saturday is asked to contact police at 724-830-3287 or 724-537-5526.
An autopsy was performed Monday. No charges have been filed.
Quincey Reese is a TribLive reporter covering the Greensburg and Hempfield areas. She also does reporting for the Penn-Trafford Star. A Penn Township native, she joined the Trib in 2023 after working as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the company for two summers. She can be reached at qreese@triblive.com.
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