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Man to stand trial in beating deaths of mother, son in Westmoreland County
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A Brackenridge man will head to trial in the September beating deaths of a mother and her adult son in Arnold.
Robert E. Briestensky Jr., 39, will be tried on two charges each of homicide and first degree murder, a Westmoreland County judge held today in a preliminary hearing, according to court documents.
Bonnie Lee Broadwater, 46, and her son, Lance A. Holt, 24, were beaten to death Sept. 28 in their home in the 1500 block of Third Avenue, police said. Their decomposing bodies were found six days later, police said. An autopsy revealed both died from blunt force trauma to the head and face resulting in multiple skull fractures, police said.
A baseball bat was found at the crime scene and was linked through DNA to Mr. Briestensky, Broadwater and Holt, police said.
Police learned through their investigation that a man named "Bobby" owed Broadwater about $700 for prescription drugs, and she was upset that he had not repaid her.
Mr. Briestensky is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison, with his formal arraignment set for May 15.
First Published March 21, 2013 6:39 pm
