McClelland guilty of homicide in slaying of 92-year-old widow
Former police officer David James McClelland has been found guilty of second-degree murder for his role in the 2011 slaying of a 92-year-old Coal Center neighbor. The Washington County jury took only several hours to deliberate before finding McClelland, 38, guilty of homicide, as well as receiving stolen property, conspiracy and dealing in unlawful proceeds.
McClelland joins his father, David Allan McClelland ,and his stepfather, Diane McClelland, in either pleading guilty or being found guilty for their roles in the death of Evelyn Stepko, a widow who kept large amounts of money in her home because she didn’t trust banks. The elder McClelland took large amounts of money in burglaries of her home, and shared it with his wife and son.
D.J. McClelland will be formally sentenced in the next few months to life in prison. His attorney said he will appeal.
Read more in tomorrow’s Observer-Reporter