Man in full Scream movie costume slaughtered neighbor with chainsaw believing victim ‘killed women and children’ last summer, police say
A Pennsylvania man has been arrested on murder charges after bursting into his neighbor’s home and slaughtering him with a chainsaw while wearing a full Scream movie costume, believing the victim had killed women and children a year ago, the agency says. Police.
Zak Moyer, dressed in a terrifying all-black costume “consistent with the ‘Scream’ movie character” Ghostface, allegedly struck his neighbor, elderly man Edward Whitehead Junior, 59, “several times with a knife and a battery-operated device.” chainsaw,” state troopers said.
Court documents revealed that Moyer, 30, admitted to stabbing Whitehead in the head, before returning to his own home to watch a movie until police arrived. According to police, the pair got into an argument that day.
According to the complaint, Moyer admitted to hiding the chainsaw he used in the attic and the knife in the drawer.
Police were called to the gruesome scene at 243 Carbon Street in the small eastern Pennsylvania town of Lehighton on Monday around 3:30 p.m.
Edward Whitehead Junior, 59, (pictured) succumbed to his injuries in hospital
Zak Moyer (pictured) dressed in a terrifying all-black costume ‘consistent with the ‘Scream’ movie character’ Ghostface
Footage of the arrest shared on Facebook shows Moyer in a red hoodie and gray joggers placing his hands above his head as several armed officers slowly creep toward him
Emergency workers rushed Whitehead to nearby St. Luke’s Carbon County Hospital after he suffered lacerations to his right arm, the right side of his head above his eyebrow, wounds to his hands that were “consistent with defensive wounds” and “a major hemorrhage ‘. wound to the right side of the head,” the complaint said.
After receiving a description of the man who had attacked Whitehead, they rushed back to Carbon Street, where they surrounded his house.
State Trooper Anthony Petroski said he and other state police officers were able to get Moyer out peacefully, telling local media, “There was communication going on between him and the troopers on scene, and eventually he opened the door himself and went to outside. shall.’
A neighbor told local media that Moyer posted a note on his window, intended for police, that read: “Ed has killed women and children. Eddie Junior killed women and children last summer.”
Whitehead has never been charged with murder and police said they are not investigating the wild allegations.
Whitehead has never been charged with murder and police said they are not investigating the wild allegations
Police were called to Carbon Street in Lehighton, Pennsylvania
Footage of the arrest shared on Facebook showed Moyer in a red hoodie and gray joggers placing his hands above his head as several armed officers slowly crawled toward him to arrest the killer.
His mugshot showed he had a large bruise under his right eye.
Police interviewed Moyer’s sister, who said the 30-year-old admitted he wanted to kill Whitehead a week prior to the murder.
Other members of the Moyer family have become involved in the case, with the killer’s father, Francis, arrested on harassment and related charges for harassing the Whiteheads after his son’s arrest.
Police said they are still investigating and there is now no threat to the small town left in turmoil by the murder.
But neighbors have been left terrified by what happened this week.
One woman, who did not want to be named by local media, said: ‘I feared for my grandchildren at the time because we were all told to stay indoors and keep the doors locked.
His family said he hopes the world will remember his kindness, his loving nature and his signature laugh
Jennifer (pictured) said: ‘You never knew if he was stressed. Frustrated when you were with him; he was just a rock for a lot of people.”
‘My granddaughter was just walking home from school when the police arrived. She’s in third grade and she was terrified.”
Edward’s niece, Megan Bernosky, told local media: ‘Baffling, I don’t think anyone has really let it sit at this point. What actually happened and what happened, it’s been terrible.”
Edward’s other niece, Jennifer Whitehead, added, “I just don’t know what kind of people or people in this world could do that.” That’s the sad part.’
His family said he hopes the world will remember his kindness, his loving nature and his signature laugh.
Jennifer said, “You never knew if he was stressed. Frustrated when you were with him; he was just a rock for a lot of people, and I wish people could see that from him.”
Megan added, “I mean, I think it’s safe to say we want absolute justice for our uncle. He deserves that.’
His obituary reads: “Edward E. Whitehead Jr., 59, of Carbon Street, Lehighton, was suddenly and tragically taken from us on Monday afternoon, March 25, 2024. He was the husband of Cindy L. (Schlier) Whitehead since August. 20, 1993.
Police are still investigating the murder and say there is no threat to the local community
But neighbors have been left terrified by what happened on Monday
“He worked in the maintenance department of Snyder Tire Co., Lehighton.
“Born in Lehighton, he was a son of the late Edward E. Sr. and Diane (Gillespie) Whitehead.
“He graduated from Panther Valley High School in 1982 and later served in the peacetime Navy, reaching the rank of MR2.
“Edward attended Meed United Methodist Church, Nesquehoning. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, especially when on Broad Mountain, Carbon County.
“Surviving in addition to his widow are two sons, Edward E. III and Dennis C., both at home; two sisters, Diane, wife of Glen Schnell of Lehighton, and Sherry Whitehead, and her fiancé, Todd Schaffer, of Slatington; a brother Wayne of Hometown; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
“He was also predeceased by brother Walter.”
Zak Moyer is currently being held in the Carbon County Jail without bail and is scheduled to appear in court on April 3.