Man charged with homicide after friend's death staged as suicide

Clarion, PA – A 34-year-old man faces criminal homicide charges after allegedly attempting to make the stabbing death of a 45-year-old woman appear as a suicide. Chase Steigerwald is in custody at Clarion County Jail following the death of Rachel Roman, who was discovered on the floor of his apartment on the morning of November 5.

A criminal complaint details that Steigerwald and an unnamed woman were outside his residence when police arrived. Steigerwald claimed they had gone for a walk and found Roman dead upon their return.

The unnamed woman provided police with a conflicting account. She stated that she heard choking noises from the living room and discovered Steigerwald packing a backpack as Roman lay bleeding on the floor.

Surveillance footage revealed the pair leaving the apartment at 5:05 a.m. and returning at 6:38 a.m. Steigerwald reportedly told the woman he intended to stage Roman’s death to look like a suicide.

Upon returning, the woman alleged that she witnessed Steigerwald placing a knife in Roman’s hand to obtain her fingerprints. She also observed him hide methamphetamine in a couch.

Witnesses at a party the night before Roman’s death saw her alive at around 11 p.m. Another witness on a FaceTime call with Steigerwald reported seeing him brandishing a knife and heard him arguing with Roman.

The night of the incident, Roman sent a text at 11:39 p.m., but a response from her coworker at 12:20 a.m. was not delivered, indicating her phone may have been turned off.

Neighbors reported a loud party at Steigerwald’s apartment that stopped around midnight. Steigerwald told police the knife found belonged to him and that he had smoked molly before calling 911 on the morning of November 5.

Blood was found in various locations within the apartment, including the sinks and a dishwashing soap bottle. An autopsy indicated that Roman suffered multiple stab wounds, with a fatal wound to her neck.

Steigerwald was arrested on a drug charge shortly after Roman’s body was found. His homicide charge was filed on Tuesday, resulting in the dismissal of the drug charge. He remains in jail without bond, with his next court appearance scheduled for December 2.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.