SOMERSET, SOMERSET COUNTY--- Jonathon Beal will head to trial on charges he murdered Justine Jackson.
The 23-year old was in court for his preliminary hearing Friday in Somerset County Court. Several witnesses testified that Beal admitted he killed Jackson; he was also the last person to be with her before she disappeared.
The 19- year old was last seen in September, reported missing October and her body was found in a shallow grave near a bike path in November. Beal was arrested by US Marshals hiding in a bathroom in New Orleans a few weeks later.
A state trooper testified Jackson was strangled with a shoelace. Some witnesses testified Beal "joked" about killing her. A former friend of Beal's Jennifer Fullem said she had run into Beal in Meyersdale when he said he killed Jackson and had to go back to burry her body.
'I didn't believe him because he never told the truth," said Fullem. "After I heard rumors about her being missing I knew this time it was true."
Beal will remain in the Somerset County Jail; a trial date has not yet been set.
The 23-year old was in court for his preliminary hearing Friday in Somerset County Court. Several witnesses testified that Beal admitted he killed Jackson; he was also the last person to be with her before she disappeared.
The 19- year old was last seen in September, reported missing October and her body was found in a shallow grave near a bike path in November. Beal was arrested by US Marshals hiding in a bathroom in New Orleans a few weeks later.
A state trooper testified Jackson was strangled with a shoelace. Some witnesses testified Beal "joked" about killing her. A former friend of Beal's Jennifer Fullem said she had run into Beal in Meyersdale when he said he killed Jackson and had to go back to burry her body.
'I didn't believe him because he never told the truth," said Fullem. "After I heard rumors about her being missing I knew this time it was true."
Beal will remain in the Somerset County Jail; a trial date has not yet been set.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.