Inmate, girlfriend charged with witness intimidation related 2022 Rostraver shooting

A Belle Vernon man awaiting trial in a 2022 fatal shooting and his girlfriend were charged Thursday with intimidating a witness in the homicide case, according to court papers.

Anthony M. Hairston, 29, and Aimee Joy Miller, 28, of Avalon are accused of conspiring to make a post on Hairston’s Facebook page while he is in jail without bond in the New Year’s Day fatal shooting of 59-year-old Holly B. Vadella of Rostraver.

Westmoreland County detectives said in court papers a witness in the case, Shaquala Poole, 32, of Uniontown, who also is charged in connection with the homicide, reported she felt threatened by the post.

Hairston and Miller are charged with conspiracy, intimidation of a witness and retaliation against a witness.

Investigators said they reviewed a 20-minute jailhouse video call from Aug. 17 between Hairston and Miller during which he asks her to make a post on his Facebook page. Police said the post that day on Hairston’s page matches what was discussed during the call.

Authorities did not detail in court papers what the post said. An Aug. 17 post on Hairston’s page includes two pictures of Poole’s statement to police in Vadella’s death and a reference to his upcoming trial.

Poole told authorities last month she is concerned about testifying during the trial as a result of the social media post.

During an interview with police Tuesday, Miller admitted to authoring the post because she doesn’t like Poole, according to court papers.

Miller is free on $25,000 unsecured bail. Her preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 12. Hairston is set for arraignment Friday. Their attorneys declined to comment.

Hairston last month rejected a deal in the Rostraver shooting that would have called for him to plead guilty to third-degree homicide and a weapons offense in exchange for 25 to 50 years in prison.

Police said Hairston fired at least two shots from an open SUV window as he attempted to pass Vadella’s vehicle on Rostraver Road shortly after midnight Jan. 1, 2022. Vadella’s body was discovered at 1:30 a.m., about an hour after surveillance cameras from nearby homes recorded video of Hairston’s SUV passing her vehicle.

His trial is set to begin Nov. 4.

Poole, 32, was charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, tampering with evidence and drug possession. She testified against Hairston at a preliminary hearing. Her case is pending.