MONESSEN, Pa. -- An anonymous tip alerted police to the location of a hidden bunker near the home of a man who allegedly murdered a local 8-year-old girl. Now, investigators are trying to determine who else -- if anyone -- knew about the underground structure.
Chief Gary Tretter says Westmoreland County homicide detectives plan to re-interview Charles Koschalk's acquaintances about the bunker, which was found in a wooded area about a block from Koschalk's home.
Koschalk is accused of homicide in the shooting death of Annette Bright (pictured, right), whose body was found a few miles from her home on July 18. Police say he has admitted accidentally shooting the girl, but they have not found a murder weapon.
Tretter says investigators will X-ray the walls at Finishing Touch, where Koschalk had been doing subcontracting masonry work, because they think he may have dropped a murder weapon into one of the blocks.
The hidden bunker was uncovered on Monday, after five hours of searching. A backhoe cleared space so police could enter the structure, which had a main room behind an opening shaft.
Monessen Department of Streets superintendent Bo Columbo, who had been helping with the search, found the bunker. Columbo said the description from an anonymous tipster who said he knew Koschalk and had been in his bunker once was almost identical to the actual shelter.
Police said the "elaborate" structure had an air vent, a latrine, a hose to supply running water, wires for electrical lighting and a tile floor. They also said a locking mechanism on the outside of the wooden door (pictured, right) was similar to a cell.
WTAE-TV's Marcie Cipriani reports that the bunker was about 4 feet high, 4 feet wide and 8 feet deep, with a layer of artificial turf and dirt covering a metal entrance.
Items were removed, and the bunker was then destoyed for safety reasons. A search warrant described that police were looking for guns, ammunition and clothes or shoes that Bright might have been wearing when she was last seen. Tretter said that nothing incriminating had been found.
Koschalk (pictured, left) is being held without bail in Westmoreland County Prison. He is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on Sept. 17.
Discussion: Previous Stories: - August 11, 2001: D.A. Blasts Slain Monessen Girl's Father
- August 9, 2001: Bright Parents Have Been Investigated Before
- August 8, 2001: Children Removed From Bright Home
- July 22, 2001: Mayor Calls For Justice System, Social Services Reviews
- July 20, 2001: Services Held For Slain Monessen Girl
- July 20, 2001: Was Justice System Too Slow To Save Annette Bright?
- July 20, 2001: Officials Search Bright Suspect's Home
- July 19, 2001: Autopsy Performed On Slain 8-Year-Old Girl
- July 19, 2001: Could Megan's Law Have Helped Bright?
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