Man Headed To Trial For Murder Of Ex-Girlfriend, Grandmother In East Hills

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A man, whose former girlfriend was found dead along with her grandmother in the East Hills, will go to trial for their murders.

Last May, 25-year-old Cesar Mazza was arrested in New Jersey, nine days after the bodies of the women were found in the grandmother's home.

At a hearing Friday, he was ordered to stand trial. Although, his lawyer thinks the evidence is circumstantial.

It was hard for the family of Tionna Banks and Valorie Crumpton to contain their emotions after listening to details of what happened to their loved ones.

Earlier this year, 19-year-old Tionna Banks never showed up at a hearing on charges Mazza assaulted her when she was pregnant with the couple's son. Mazza didn't show up either.

Instead, the bodies of Banks and the 72-year-old Crumpton were found in the Karl Street home where Crumpton lived.

A pathologist testified the grandmother had 15 head injuries, and 11 blunt and sharp force injuries to her lower body. Banks had 17 wounds to her head and neck. and 20 sharp and blunt force injuries to her trunk. She also showed evidence of defensive wounds.

A Children Youth and Families caseworker testified Banks once told her that she got text messages from Mazza threatening to kill her and take her baby.

Among those who took the stand, Clara Mazza, the defendant's sister, who testified her brother showed up at her house by surprise one day and had his son with him. He wanted to drop him off, which was rare, and had blood on his clothing. He promised to come back soon, but never did.

Instead, Mazza was arrested more than a week later in New Jersey.

"My client said he didn't do it," said defense attorney Casey White.

Reporter: "What did he say about why he left and went to New Jersey?"

White: "He's from New Jersey."

He also told his sister that he got a cut on his hand during an argument with Banks.

"No dispute that he had a cut on his hand from a knife, and he spoke to his family members about one of the decedents coming at him with a knife," said White. "At this point in time, we've learned that a total of five people were at the scene of this crime. Right now, we don't know who the killer was."

But there was also evidence of a bloody trail in the house leading up the steps to the baby's room.

After hearing all the evidence, District Judge Robert Dzvonick ordered Mazza to stand trial on charges including kidnapping and criminal homicide.

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