LATROBE, PA – Pamela Puskar, 59, known among neighbors for her warm spirit and generous nature, was found dead in her Latrobe apartment on Sunday, the victim of what the local district attorney described as a brutal homicide.
Authorities say Puskar’s life was cut short early Saturday morning after she refused unwanted advances from a man who had been in the apartment complex the previous evening. Investigators believe Glenn Whittier, 54, fatally stabbed Puskar following an encounter in her home at Loyalhanna Apartments.
The investigation began after concerned friends attempted to contact Puskar on Saturday with no response to phone calls or knocks at her door. The silence continued into the next morning, prompting a welfare check around 8 a.m. Sunday. It was then that Puskar’s body was discovered in the kitchen of her apartment, the scene described by first responders as indicative of a violent struggle.
An autopsy revealed that Puskar died from multiple stab wounds, confirming homicide as the cause of death. According to court documents, Whittier had been present in the building Friday night with friends when he encountered Puskar. Witnesses say she entered an apartment looking for someone and was asked for cigarettes by Whittier.
Detectives tracing Whittier’s movements discovered surveillance video capturing him leaving the building early Saturday, shortly after authorities believe the killing happened. The footage reportedly showed Whittier with a tightly pulled hood and carrying a large Ginger Ale box as he exited the premises.
Police allege that after being spurned by Puskar, Whittier followed her to her apartment and attacked her. During a phone call between Whittier and a friend shortly after midnight, Puskar could be overheard asserting, “You’re not touching me,” according to statements provided to law enforcement.
Whittier was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and evidence tampering. He has a prior criminal record, including a 2016 conviction for aggravated assault after an incident in which he held a woman captive and inflicted serious injuries.
Remembered in her obituary as a loving presence, Puskar was a member of the Latrobe Ladies Auxiliary American Legion Post #515. Friends recall her fondness for crossword puzzles and community gatherings, as well as her enduring kindness.
Whittier was denied bail and is being held pending a preliminary hearing set for December 8. Investigators continue to collect evidence while members of the Latrobe community mourn the loss of a cherished neighbor.
As the case moves forward, residents reflect on the life of Pamela Puskar and the impact of senseless violence within their close-knit community.