Politics & Government

Alleged Killer of Alburtis Women Says Bloody Sneakers Not His

Brandin Lee Kasick, accused of killing Althea and Jeannette Walbert of Alburtis, appeared at a pretrial hearing in Lehigh County Court.

, the former carpet cleaner last year appeared at a pretrial Tuesay in Lehigh County Court.

Kasick, a former resident of Orefield and Breinigsville, was arrested in Florida a year ago and charged with the homicides of Althea Walbert, 82, and her 59-year-old daughter, Jeannette.

Police say Kasick, 27, fled to Florida, but before he did he left a bag of his clothing and possessions with his former girlfriend and mother of his children, Chantiel Schanerberger. She later gave the bag containing bloody sneakers to police.

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Police say the blood belonged to Jeannette Walbert, according to a story in The Morning Call.

Kasick, speaking on his own behalf Tuesday, tried to distance himself from the shoes, even hinting they did not belong to him, the article said.

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Kasick said Schanerberger did not have his permission to give the bag to police, the story said. 

Lehigh County Chief Deputy District Attorney Christie Bonesch told Kasick he couldn't have it "both ways." Bonesch said Kasick admitted ownership of the sneakers when he said Schanerberger didn't have his permission to give them to police.

The Walberts, both lifelong residents of Alburtis, were . Althea Walbert was reportedly a bit eccentric and often kept thousands of dollars in cash in her purse.

Her ultimate encounter with Kasick was not the first time she had been robbed, police report.

The pair were found around 9 a.m. on March 11.

Exact details will be revealed at trial, Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin has said. A trial date has been set for March 2013.

Martin is seeking the death penalty for Kasick.


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