Preliminary Hearing Delayed for New Castle Man Accused of Shooting Corry Couple
A man from New Castle, Yohance Tacuma Mercer-Huffman, 28, is facing charges of criminal homicide and other offenses in connection with the shooting of a Corry couple, resulting in the death of 39-year-old Julie Anne Wegmiller. Her husband, Edwin Fran Wegmiller Jr., 40, was also severely injured in the incident. Mercer-Huffman is currently being held without bond in the Lawrence County jail.
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The preliminary hearing, which was scheduled for Thursday in Central Court, has been postponed until next month. The delay was requested by Lawrence County Public Defender Lawrence Keith due to a potential constitutional issue regarding Edwin Wegmiller’s identification of the suspect. Wegmiller had not previously identified Mercer-Huffman from a photo or lineup, and would be identifying him for the first time in court.
The hearing has been tentatively rescheduled for January 25th at 11 a.m. The case is being prosecuted by District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa, with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Emily Sanchez-Parodi.
In addition to the charges related to the shooting and homicide, Mercer Huffman is also facing separate drug-related charges. These charges were originally scheduled to be part of the hearing on Thursday. Police reportedly discovered 10 plastic bags of suspected crack cocaine and a digital scale in his pickup truck during his arrest.
Mercer-Huffman is facing charges of homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault, prohibited possession of a firearm, and discharging a gun into an occupied structure. He is also facing possession and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance charges, as well as resisting arrest.
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The incident occurred on September 30th, when Julie Ann Wegmiller was found dead inside the couple’s crashed gray Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Her husband was found lying near the truck, and the investigation revealed that she had died from a single gunshot wound to the head. Police found a black dreadlock of hair in her hand, resembling the dreadlocks Mercer-Huffman was sporting at the time.
Edwin Wegmiller told police that they had given a man with dreadlocks a ride to the area, and that the man shot him multiple times. He stated that the man then shot his wife once, killing her instantly. Mercer-Huffman was a wanted absconder from parole in Philadelphia and had been released from state prison in May 2022.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shootings to contact the state police in New Castle. Mercer-Huffman is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.
