Two in murder trial plead guilty

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA - A wife and her daughter’s boyfriend, who allegedly conspired to murder the woman’s husband, pleaded guilty before the new presiding Wayne County Judge Raymond Hamill. The murder occurred on April 14, 2007 at 260 Ridge Street in Honesdale. Since the defendants pleaded guilty, there will be no trial.

Patricia Luyster, age 38, and her daughter’s boyfriend, Cody Steich, age 18, pleaded guilty of murder in the third degree, according to a press release issued by Michael Lehutsky, Wayne County District Attorney, and agreed to testify against each other as part of their guilty plea. The murder victim was Ronald Luyster, age 41. Yet to be tried is the daughter, Clarissa Luyster, age 17, who allegedly was part of the conspiracy.

Steich’s sentencing has been scheduled for March 13. Luyster will be sentenced on March 27.

Lehutskuy is recommending a sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison for Steich, and 17 to 34 years for Luyster.

On the evening of April 14, 2007 at 11:00 p.m., Ronald was returning from a dinner with his estranged wife, Patricia and three of their nine children. According to the police report, as he stepped out of his car at the rear of the house, Steich stepped out of the shadow of the garage and shot him in the chest. He died at 12:11 a.m. in the emergency room of Wayne Memorial Hospital.

According to the police report, since April 2006, there had been a restraining order against Ronald to stay away from his wife and family. Despite the order, Ronald spent the days prior to the shooting at his wife’s house.

“Since we have one more defendant who remains to be tried, I am withholding further public comment to avoid any allegations that the proceedings have been tainted by undue publicity,” Lehutsky said in the press release.