BUTLER (KDKA) — A man from New Jersey accused of killing his father and stepmother in Butler County was in court for a pretrial hearing.

The remains of Ken Abbott and Celeste Abbott were found on their estate in Brady Township last July.

A search of property revealed a long human bone near the roadway, a human skull near the pond and a pelvis in the pond.

Although the defense asked for a change of venue, Butler County Judge William Shaffer ruled that he will attempt to select a jury in the Colin Abbott case in Butler County first before considering an out-of-county jury based on pretrial publicity.

Judge Shaffer also delayed any ruling on a defense motion to bar the death penalty or on defense motions to limit evidence at trial.

Several New Jersey and Pennsylvania State Police officers were questioned at Wednesday’s pretrial hearing about the evidence and the search warrants they obtained.

A search of the defendant’s home in New Jersey turned up a wallet with Celeste Abbott’s driver’s license and credit card. A handgun with two live rounds in the magazine was also discovered in Colin Abbott’s residence.

Abbott’s defense attorney challenged the validity of a search by a New Jersey State Trooper of Abbott’s home.

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