Slain Activist's Family Speaks Out About Arrest In Case

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A teenager was taken into custody Wednesday in connection with the murder of 61-year-old Isaiah Dent.

Dent was a well-known activist and artist in the area.

Sean Overton, 19, briefly spoke while he was being escorted by police at the Allegheny County Jail.

"Lawsuit, lawsuit, lawsuit. That's all, that's all. Know what I mean? Know what I mean? Lawsuit," Overton said.

Overton maintained his innocence and claimed police had arrested the wrong guy.

Allegheny County homicide detectives said Dent was found in the bathroom of his home. The towel bar was missing, which is now believed to be the murder weapon.

According to police, after talking with witnesses, Overton was upset that the victim short-changed him while buying marijuana.

"From what I hear, they got the killer, and I'll pray for the killer, but I do hope they give him the highest punishment available," Dent's sister, Carrol Dent, said.

A vigil was held in Dent's memory Wednesday night after the arrest. Coincidently, it had been planned before Overton was taken into custody.

While his life was cut short, friends and family say there is an important message to be learned from how Dent lived his life.

"That man had courage, creativity, passion, love. He had so much inside of him that he could have harbored and kept to himself. But, he took all of that and said, 'What can I do to make my community better?' one woman said.

Overton has been charged with criminal homicide, robbery, and tampering with evidence.

RELATED LINKS:
McKees Rocks Activist Found Dead (1/28/13)
More McKees Rocks News
More Reports From Heather Abraham