16 years after brutal murder, case remains unsolved By BRIAN CARSON Sentinel correspondent LEWISTOWN This year marked the 16th anniversary of the tragic deaths of Sherry Jo Leonard and Jason Specht, and the family’s resolve to seek justice and honor their memories was as strong as ever. The 2023 Annual Leonard/Specht Family Gathering was […]
ethompson@lewistownsentinel.com
LEWISTOWN A jury found Stuart Wayne Bryant guilty of third-degree murder and related charges during the third day of a trial stemming from a devastating 2019 crash that killed Mifflin County Junior High School teacher and coach, Harry Aultz.
The verdict followed nearly three hours of deliberation on Friday at the Mifflin County Court of Common Pleas.
“It was a terrible case where somebody lost their life,” Mifflin County District Attorney Christopher Torquato said after the trial. “We certainly appreciate the attentiveness of the jury in evaluating the facts of the case. (Considering) the nature of the defense in the case, we felt a third-degree murder charge was appropriate. The jury apparently agreed after hearing all the evidence of the case. In the end, justice has been done for Harry Aultz and the family.”
bcox@lewistownsentinel.com
LEWISTOWN On Thursday, during the second day of a Mifflin County homicide trial stemming from a 2019 crash, the defense called into question the reliability of key data.
Stuart Wayne Bryant, 61, of Coatesville, is facing third-degree homicide and other charges from the Jan. 28, 2019 collision that killed Mifflin County Junior High School teacher and football coach Harry Aultz at the intersection of U.S. 22 Business and Hoss Drive in Granville Township.
The main witness of the day was Frank Gaus, who is a collision analysis and reconstruction specialist with the Pennsylvania State Police and who was involved in the crash investigation.
ethompson@lewistownsentinel.com
LEWISTOWN A jury is tasked this week with determining whether Stuart Wayne Bryant had malicious intent related to the crash in January 2019 that killed Mifflin County Junior High School teacher and coach, Harry Aultz.
The jury on Tuesday heard testimony from two expert witnesses and 14 others who said they saw a vehicle that fit the description of the one Bryant was driving the night of the accident to be driving erratically in various locations in Mifflin County.
The jury trial will determine whether Bryant, 61, of Coatesville, is guilty of charges of murder of the third degree, a first-degree felony; homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, a second-degree felony; homicide by vehicle, a third-degree felony; involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree misdemeanor; and more than a dozen related criminal and traffic offenses.