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Fourth Man Says He Knew Nothing About Slaying Of Ex-Police Chief, Wife

POSTED: 4:34 pm EDT March 12, 2008
UPDATED: 5:27 pm EDT April 23, 2008

A fourth Washington County man charged with planning the robbery and murder of former Carroll Township Police Chief Howard Springer and his wife, Nancy, says he knew nothing about the killings .

Tecko Dwayne Tartt, 21, of Donora, was arrested on Thursday and charged with providing the gun that killed the couple, along with homicide and robbery charges.

But Tartt's defense attorney said Wednesday at Tartt's preliminary hearing that he would prove at trial that Tartt knew nothing of the killings.

Already in custody are Gerald L. Szakal, 25 , of Rostraver; Justin John Welch, 21, of Charleroi; and Gregory Monya Carpenter, 52, of Charleroi.

Police said Szakal shot and killed the Springers in their Highland Road home on March 4. The couple operated a home-based precious metals business out of the home, police said.

Police said Tartt provided the gun Szakal used to shoot the couple. Szakal then shared some of the $6,700 he took with Tartt and the two others.

Szakal is charged with homicide and robbery, while Welch and Carpenter are each charged with conspiracy to commit homicide, police said.

Tartt is currently being held in the Washington County Jail.


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