Brother-In-Law Charged In Murder Of Dauphin County Family

WPMT FOX43

January 3, 2003

The brother of a man accused of sexually molesting his two daughters was ordered held without bail on murder charges Friday in the Christmas Eve shooting deaths of the daughters and their mother, but said he was only driving the getaway vehicle.

According to an affidavit, 28 year old Scott Wholaver of St. Benedict told police he drove his older brother, Ernest Wholaver, from Cambria County in to the house in Middletown, where Jean Wholaver and her daughters lived.

Scott Wholaver, a truck driver, said they arrived around 4 a.m. and he stayed in the truck while Ernest went toward the house, and that his brother was shaking excitedly when he returned five or 10 minutes later.

“It is our belief that (Scott Wholaver) was a conspirator in the murder,” said Dauphin County District Attorney Edward M. Marsico Jr. ‘However, it is our belief at this time that he is not the actual triggerman in these homicides.”

Police have described 42 year old Ernest Wholaver as a suspect in the deaths of his wife and daughters, but had not charged him with that crime by the end of the day Friday.

“We expect in the near future there will be other charges filed. However, at this time, I can’t tell you tomorrow, the next day, whenever,” Marsico said.

Ernest Wholaver had been free on $100,000 bail pending trial on charges that he sexually molested his daughters; 15-year-old Elizabeth and 20-year-old Victoria Wholaver. His bail was revoked and he was arrested near Altoona on Thursday night because authorities were concerned that he would attempt to flee before his sexual assault trial scheduled for later this month.

Documents detailing the sexual abuse charges say the sisters were afraid to come forward because they feared he would harm them.

Ernest Wholaver maintains he did not commit the murders, his attorney said. “Ernest Wholaver maintains his complete innocence,” Lappas I Holiday said. “In the event he is charged, he will strenuously defend himself short after I against all allegations and wrongdoing.”

According to Scott’s affidavit, Ernest told him that he wanted to go to the house to look in the windows and told Scott to drive away. The house was entered by way of a broken window pane on a garage door.

Police found the bodies of the victims Christmas morning. All three suffered a single gunshot wound to the head.

Following his arraignment, Scott Wholaver was taken to Dauphin County Prison, where Ernest is also being held. He was charged with three counts of murder and one count each of burglary and criminal conspiracy. He did not have an attorney at his arraignment.

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