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Police: Man Shot, Cut Up With Chainsaw In Fight Over Drugs

PUNXSUTAWNEY (KDKA) -- There are new details emerging in a gruesome crime near Punxsutawney.

According to police, 32-year-old Michael Shugars is accused of shooting 33-year-old Chet Haddow during a drug deal.

Police say Shugars is accused of then driving Haddow to his home in Punxsutawney, and cutting up his body with a chain saw.

"The parts were scattered throughout parts of Indiana and Jefferson County," said Maj. Scott Neal, of Pennsylvania State Police.

It didn't take long for someone to uncover what happened.

A fisherman found parts of Haddow's body in Mahonning Creek in Perry Township. That set off a huge search that spanned several days.

"It activates the criminal investigators from the entire region to all come together and work on a crime like this," said Jefferson County District Attorney Jeff Burkett. "We were just processing for evidence. It got dark on us Sunday night, so we held the scene so we could process it a little more effectively in the daylight hours."

Eventually, officials identified Haddow through fingerprints. They also found his burned out car.

But it was the people in the community who led them to Shugars.

"We got many, many phone calls, people calling in anonymous tips," said Maj. Neal. "That's all very effective and we appreciate the help the community gave."

"Unfortunately, something like this is the deep end of the spectrum," said Capt. Bernard Petrovsky, of Pennsylvania State Police. "You see a gruesome murder that is basically tied to the heroin trade."

Shugars is from Brookville in Jefferson County.

He's being held without bond and faces a court appearance early next month.

RELATED LINKS:
More Jefferson County News
More Indiana County News
More Reports by Christine D'Antonio

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