Published: December 23, 2008 10:54 pm      

Accused kill released on bond

HOMER CITY — Family members who had returned to a murder scene to pick up missing teeth decried a district judge’s decision Tuesday to free the accused killer on $25,000 bond.

The mother and girlfriend of the late Erick Daniel Melius, 28, of Belsano, spoke with reporters after a preliminary hearing for murder defendant Stephen Charles Shesko, 60, of Seward was continued.

“I don’t think he should walk. I think he should sit,” said a tearful Kayla Warzel of Nanty Glo, the 19-month-old daughter she had with Melius at her hip.

“It makes me sick,” she said.

Melius’ mom, Michaela Melius, agreed. “We went and picked his teeth up off the road so they could put them back in ...” she said, breaking off.

Shesko was to be freed Tuesday from the Indiana County Jail.

The preliminary hearing will be held at 1:15 p.m. Feb. 10 at the office of District Judge Susanne Steffee.

Evidence indicates Melius was not an innocent party when he was beaten and stomped Nov. 24. State police said Melius was a passenger in a van when he began yelling obscenities at a group of 28 bear hunters in Buffington Township, Indiana County, near the Cambria line.

“Nice pumpkin haircut,” Melius chided an Amish hunter.

When Melius took a swing at a hunter, according to police, Shesko ran up and began punching and kicking him.

Melius went to Memorial Medical Center but checked himself out against the advice of doctors. He died Nov. 26.

Melius left the hospital because he didn’t have insurance and “didn’t feel he was being treated right” by Memorial, Warzel said. “He said he’s never felt pain like that before – ever.”

She said he was a great dad and boyfriend and, “He didn’t deserve this.”

Shesko is charged with criminal homicide and aggravated assault. He had been held without bond.

Defense attorney James Ecker of Pittsburgh said the lowered bond came with the consent of District Attorney Tom Bianco and state police.

“My client really never has had any trouble,” Ecker claimed. Shesko is a Vietnam War veteran and former Johnstown resident who worked 20 years at the railroad before leaving on disability.

About 50 people packed Steffee’s office Tuesday for the preliminary hearing that never came.