Conspiracy conviction dismissed in 2011 murder

By PAUL PEIRCE

A state appellate court Monday dismissed the homicide conspiracy conviction of a Washington County woman who, along with her husband and stepson, were found guilty in the brutal slaying of their 92-year-old neighbor in 2011 in order to loot the victim’s savings.
The three-judge Superior Court panel also ordered Diane McClelland, 56, be returned to Washington Common Pleas Court to be resentenced on the lesser criminal charges a jury found her guilty of in 2013 for the July 18, 2011, stabbing death of Evelyn Stepko of California.
McClelland is serving a 24 1⁄2- to 49-year prison sentence in the fatal stabbing of Stepko. The appellate court let stand convictions against McClelland for dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, receiving stolen property and hindering apprehension.
McClelland’s husband, David A. McClelland, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for stabbing Stepko to death after she surprised him in the basement of her home while he was looking for cash. He was linked to the slaying by DNA.

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