A Johnstown girl accused with seven others in the kidnapping and slaying of an Indiana County man in October has been charged as an adult with criminal homicide, state police said Tuesday.
Harmony R. Hayward, 14, originally was charged as a juvenile in the Oct. 20 stabbing death of Hayden Robert Garreffa, 19, of Ebensburg, whose body was found in Brush Valley Township. Hayward was charged as an adult Tuesday and faces an arraignment before Homer City District Judge Susanne Steffee. The girl remains incarcerated in a juvenile detention facility.
Six of the other defendants charged with criminal homicide and kidnapping are from Johnstown: Isaac J. Buchkoski, 21; Mia S. Catalfano, 18; Taylyn N. Edwards, 18; Thomas A. Rivera, 20; Summer I. Settlemyer, 18; and Jesse Lee Wadsworth, 18. The other suspect is Desean G. Alvarez, 21, of Hammond, Ind. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Jan. 13 at the Indiana County Courthouse.
Garreffa was kidnapped after being lured out of a relative’s home and was beaten, kicked and stabbed to death. Police said the incident began after one of the defendants held a personal grudge against Garreffa.
State Police Trooper Cliff Greenfield declined to comment on charging Hayward as an adult, deferring to Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi Jr., who could not be reached for comment.
Manzi said in a statement that he anticipates “a long and arduous prosecution. “
