Woman found inside suitcase to stand trial

By Mon Valley Independent

By Kaylie Moore

kmoore@yourmvi.com

A Smithton woman who attempted to evade police by hiding in a suitcase has been ordered to stand trial in Westmoreland County Court.

Terri Lynn Downs-Hayes, 43, appeared Monday before Magisterial District Judge Charles Christner in Rostraver Township. She waived her rights to preliminary hearings in three separate cases.

Westmoreland County Sherriff’s Department warrant team officers discovered Downs-Hayes around 11:30 a.m. on Christmas Eve, following a raid on a home in the 300 block of Darr Road in the village of Van Meter, Rostraver Township.

To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Tuesday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.

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