McKeesport men charged in robbery, assault of 90-year-old Elizabeth Township woman

Two McKeesport men are accused of robbing a 90-year-old woman in a home invasion early Thursday in Elizabeth Township, and one of the suspects is charged with assaulting her.

The woman told township police she was sitting in her living room watching television when her cable service went out and she heard a “heavy noise” twice at her door, according to court documents.

The woman said two men then knocked open the door and came into her home. One of the pair, later identified by police as William Aschmeller, 57, of McKeesport, demanded her purse and money as he rifled through various drawers and took jewelry from a jewelry box, according to the police complaint.

Aschmeller didn’t find the woman’s purse but picked up a cordless phone near the victim and threw it into the kitchen, breaking it, police said.

Police said he also sprayed the woman with an unknown orange substance consistent with pepper spray. According to the complaint, “The victim had no reaction to the spray and described it as just cold liquid.”

Police said the second suspect, Carl Mathews, 45, of McKeesport, remained standing behind the woman’s chair and told her to keep quiet but didn’t touch her.

When the pair left the home, the woman called a neighbor for help.

After police were dispatched to the home, shortly before 2 a.m., they found that the cable line outside had been freshly cut, and they discovered wire cutters in the victim’s bedroom that didn’t belong to her, according to court papers.

Checking nearby license plate readers and traffic cameras, police said they were able to trace the suspects and a minivan registered to Aschmeller to an apartment complex in McKeesport, where police say the pair were seen getting into the vehicle.

Police detained the men and found both were in possession of rubber gloves and Mathews had a pry bar in his waistband, according to the complaint.

During an interview with authorities, Mathews allegedly admitted his involvement in the home invasion and said Aschmeller had told him the house was vacant. Mathews told police when he saw the victim in the living room he “didn’t want any part of what was now happening.”

According to court documents, Aschmeller provided various accounts of his whereabouts to police but denied involvement in the break-in.

The suspects are charged with burglary, robbery, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling.

Aschmeller also is charged with simple assault and harassment.

The men were arraigned Friday and were placed in the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh. According to court documents, Aschmeller was denied bail to assure community safety and Mathews was denied bail because of a danger to the community.

Online court records did not list defense attorneys for the pair. They face preliminary hearings on Aug. 3.