“You Deserve Every Second”: Man Who Killed Pregnant Amish Woman Gets His Sentence
Shawn Cranston was sentenced Monday to two life terms for the killing of Crawford County, Pennsylvania Amish woman Rebekah Byler and her unborn child. Following a four-day trial in June, Cranston was swiftly convicted for the murders of Byler and her unborn girl.
Now Cranston will spend the rest of his life in prison for his crimes. From the report:
The Corry man who killed a 23-year-old Amish woman and her unborn child will spend the rest of his life in jail.
Shawn Cranston, 53, was sentenced Monday to two consecutive life sentences for the February 2024 murder of Rebekah Byler of Spartansburg and the baby girl she was carrying.
Judge Francis Schultz said the consecutive life terms were appropriate given “the brutal nature of the killings and the fact that there were two victims.”
The judge was unequivocal:
“You deserve every second of the sentence I’m about to give,” Schultz told Cranston before imposing the sentence. He later added, “No commutation of this sentence should ever occur.”
Rebekah Byler, 23, was found murdered in her home in February 2024. Two other small children were at home at the time but unharmed. Rebekah’s husband was left to discover his wife had been killed on returning home later that morning. It was testified by expert witness at trial that the Bylers’ unborn child died shortly after Rebekah’s death.
In addition to the two consecutive life sentences, Cranston was sentenced for his additional convictions:
He was also sentenced to six to 20 years on the first-degree felony burglary charge and 10 months to seven years on the third-degree felony criminal trespass charge. Schultz instructed that the sentences for burglary and criminal trespass run concurrently to the sentence for mu[r]der of the first degree in the killing of Byler.
Cranston also must pay fines totaling $20,000 and prosecution costs.
This would seem to bring to an end one of the most disturbing and tragic cases involving the Amish in recent memory.
The Amish put their faith first and foremost in God. Regardless, I hope that this news of a just earthly punishment for Rebekah’s killer will do something to help Rebekah’s family to heal and move forward.
Cranston Sentenced
FINALLY!! Justice for Mrs. Byler, her baby and her family. The jury and judge got it right!! Hooray!! Hope he sleeps with one eye open and one eye closed every night for the rest of his life. He will NOT be popular in prison. Even convicts have their own “code” on the inside.
Righteous thinking.
Genesis 9:6 says that whosoever sheds man’s blood shall have his blood shed by a man because Man was created in the image of God. This verse instructs us that God wants us to respect human life and consider it sacred, and this is done by publicly shedding the blood of those who kill their fellow man intentionally and willfully and knowingly.
Someone who does a cold-blooded murder shows they do not have respect for God and God’s creation of man.
God does not want the Christian to be the one to Bear the sword or fight but it is up to the civil governments to Bear the sword for the prevention of evil doers taking over the world. Romans 13 speaks about Caesar bearing the sword and not in vain. Giving a man two consecutive life sentences with free room and board isn’t exactly punishment. Yes it will prohibit him from most likely killing anyone outside of the prison but the reason the Quakers established a penitentiary in Pennsylvania was for people to become penitent and to repent. Upon repentance it would be understood that they could be released back into society. But God apparently wanted someone to die if they were murderous killers, and not be granted the opportunity to even repent by living a life time in a prison. Justice delayed is justice denied.
YES!
Glad to hear it! More punishment awaits him later on after death.
That was such a tragic story. : (
I pray for healing for all those affected by this brutality.
One question,.. WHY???????? Why?,.. what could have ever been his motive for this?
Cranston’s Motive
Martha, his motive was money. Cranston was a drug user who (according to his girlfriend at the time) said he’d been “shed hopping” which is to break into people’s homes/sheds/outbuildings in the hopes of finding valuables that can be sold for cash. He thought the Byler’s kept cash in their home & knowing Rebekah would be home alone, he walked into her home & demanded money. When she screamed for him to leave immediately, he stabbed & shot her. In front of her young children.