CLEARFIELD – Three people charged in connection with the murder of Chase Anderson of Curwensville were scheduled for court Tuesday.
In April, Kenja Kasheem Tew, 22, and Denny Scott Bailey, 38, Woodland were charged with criminal homicide, simple assault, kidnap to inflict terror, conspiracy and related charges in connection with Anderson’s death.
Chantell Renee Demi, 26, Woodland, was charged with four counts of criminal conspiracy and tampering with evidence.
In a second case, she is charged with reckless burning, criminal conspiracy and tampering with evidence for allegedly destroying the vehicle used to transport Anderson to the wooded location where he died.
She was allegedly assisted by Joseph Ralston, 38, Curwensville, who faces charges of reckless burning, three counts of criminal conspiracy and tampering with evidence.
Anderson was reported missing by his mother, but the investigation took a sad turn after Tew allegedly made comments to witnesses that Anderson was “not coming back.”
Once Tew was in custody, he led police to Anderson’s burnt body in a wooded part of Pike Township.
Testimony at the preliminary hearing revealed that Tew and Bailey lured Anderson to the remote area and then fought with him. Each of them claimed the other stabbed Anderson and burned the body.
During motions court on Tuesday, Ralston’s attorney, Michael Waltman, argued for Judge Fredric J. Ammerman to reduce Ralston’s $100,000 bail on this case and his $50,000 bail on a separate contraband charge.
Waltman pointed out that Ralston was aware the charges were going to be filed against him for months and he didn’t flee the area.
“These are allegations,” Waltman noted, adding that Ralston does not have a history of violence and he was involved “after the fact.”
First Assistant District Attorney Ryan Dobo argued that Ralston is a danger to society.
“He was well aware of the murder and he covered it up,” Dobo said.
Ammerman stated that he believed Ralston was a flight risk and denied the motion to reduce bail in both cases.
Motions were also filed by Tew’s and Demi’s attorneys to compel discovery from the commonwealth and extend the time for the defense to file pre-trial motions. Both of these were granted.
All of those charged in this case remain incarcerated.
