Published: May 04, 2009 11:10 pm      

Murder suspect returned

SOMERSET — Former Somerset County resident John David Dawson has been returned to Pennsylvania to face charges that he killed his wife nearly three decades ago in Conemaugh Township.

Dawson, 59, was arraigned Sunday by District Judge Susan Mankamyer of Boswell on charges of criminal homicide, conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, arson with the intent to collect insurance and arson causing a death.

Dawson, 59, was lodged in the Somerset County Jail after the arraignment.

He is charged with the 1981 death of Kathleen Marie Dawson and is held without bond.

Dawson waived extradition in Jacksonville, Fla. Authorities said Dawson moved to Florida shortly after 30-year-old Kathleen Dawson was bludgeoned with a blackjack and then burned in her car near Tire Hill.

The arrest was made last month after John Dawson’s nephew, Duane Schmidt, came forward with new information.

Authorities at the time of the death said they did not have enough evidence to charge Dawson with the murder.

He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Mankamyer on Friday.

Although the state police have filed a conspiracy charge in the case, there have been no other arrests in the case.

The state police have said that Dawson moved to Florida with Rose Saylor of Stoystown, who is now deceased.

The two allegedly were having an affair for several weeks prior to Kathleen Dawson’s murder.