[Me. I Am Salman]

Two Berks County men are charged with beating and stabbing Ashley Lynn Kline, then setting her body ablaze in a Clay Township wildlife area, according to officials.

Adam M. Lynch, 21, and Ryan M. Schannauer, 19, were both charged Thursday morning with the brutal killing of Kline, a 23-year-old Berks County woman who had been missing since Dec. 30.
RELATEFamily: Ashley Lynn Kline's killer was once her friend
Police allege that on that evening Lynch and Schannauer picked up Kline from her home and killed her later in the night or next morning.
Prosecuters said they will consider pursuing the death penalty when the men are tried.

Both men are locked up at Lancaster County Prison, without bail, after being arraigned Thursday on counts of homicide, arson, abuse of a corpse and conspiracy to commit all three of those crimes.

They were arrested Thursday morning at separate locations in Berks County.
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The men and Kline apparently had hung out as friends in the past, according to a relative.

"It's awful knowing what they did to her," Penny Monteleone, Ashley's aunt, said Thursday morning, shortly after the men were charged.

Police don't believe Kline was taken against her will Dec. 30. She did, however, struggle for her life as she was being attacked at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, arrest affidavits show.

The men gave differing versions of what happened to Kline, but police believe both were involved in all aspects of the killing.

"Who exactly did what is under some question," Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said Thursday morning. "What is beyond clear is that they both participated."

Stedman, calling the case "extremely disturbing," said conspiracy charges were filed because there was evidence the men planned the killing.

"Clearly they had a gas can and clearly they had a knife," the district attorney said.

The men returned to Middle Creek on Jan. 8 to again burn Kline's body, the affidavits show.

"To further obliterate her identity," Stedman said.

The plan worked initially as the coroner and police were unable to identify the body based on her appearance and what was found in the woods.

Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, assisted by forensic odontologist Dr. Richard Graff, used dental records to confirm the body was Kline.

Diamantoni said he listed on Kline's death certificate the cause of death was "multiple stab wounds."

"Certainly, one of the stab wounds was fatal," the coroner said Thursday.

However, Diamantoni is conducting additional tests to determine if Kline was alive — as the men told police — when she was set on fire.

A modification could then be made to the death certificate, Diamantoni said.

"I haven't (confirmed) that the burning occurred prior to death," Diamantoni said.

Two hikers found Kline's body Sunday afternoon at Middle Creek, near Laurel Drive.

She had been stabbed in the back and her body badly burned, police reported.

The finding came less than a week after police searched a waste station in Adamstown for Kline.

State Police Capt. Dante Orlandi said a purse -— containing Kline's photo ID — was found in that area, across the street from Bollman Hat Co., 110 E. Main St.

"The items inside were Ashley's," Orlandi said.

Lynch formerly lived in Adamstown.

Both men gave statements to police.

This, according to an affidavit, is Lynch's version of what happened:

The men picked up Kline in Schannauer's white Buick and drove around.

Lynch took over driving while Schannauer and Kline had sex in the back seat. An argument between those two ensued and it became physical.

Lynch stopped the car near Seglock Road in Middle Creek and both men forced Kline out of the car.

As they forced the woman into the woods, Schannauer stabbed Kline multiple times, doused her with gasoline and lit her on fire.

Lynch reported both men returned to the scene Jan. 8 to "ignite her corpse."

Schannauer, in his statement to police, shifted more blame onto Lynch.

He reported:

The men picked up Kline with her thinking they were going to watch a movie.

The men planned to "scare" Kline by driving her to a remote area. Schannauer was driving as Lynch physically assaulted Kline.

Schannauer drove to Laurel Drive, where the men had planned to take her.

As the trio walked into the woods, Lynch stabbed Kline. Schannauer claimed he poured gasoline on Kline while she was still alive.

Lynch then ignited her and the men fled.

"There's a difference between what they are saying," Stedman said. "What's clear is she was intentionally killed."

Stedman said he will consider pursuing the death penalty.

"All murders are terrible, but the death penalty is for cases the legislature has identified as more terrible than others," he said. "These particular facts certainly warrant serious consideration. We will review the facts and the law and make a determination at the appropriate time."

http://lancasteronline.com/article/l...cide-case.html

tldr - Two men aged 21 and 19 picked up Ashley Kline, 23, on December 30th saying they were going to the movies. They then drove her out into the middle of nowhere, stabbed her multiple times, and then soaked her in gasoline and set her on fire.

Apparently the woman had the mental capacity of a 15 year old because she got lead poisoning when she was younger and it affected her brain development. One of the murderers was a life long family friend

This is awful

[Munchkins]

****ing hell how horrific. Poor poor woman taken advantage of
(why am i reading depressing things like this, i have college tomorrow and i need to go to sleep ffs)

[Amy Jade]

Evil bastards. Crimes like this make me wish we had the death penalty back.

[Munchkins]

I'll say it again, id rather them be locked in a room with ragged clothing and just gruel to eat, much more of a pathetic existence than a quick death penalty

[Z]

Evil in its purest form... I feel sick reading that. That poor, poor woman.

[Drew.]

Originally Posted by Munchkins

I'll say it again, id rather them be locked in a room with ragged clothing and just gruel to eat, much more of a pathetic existence than a quick death penalty

Yup

[Ammi]

...there really are some evil people in the world...and she went with them..?...she must have trusted them...despicable human beings...

[Josy]

This is horrific I actually wish I hadn't read through, poor girl.


Salman your link doesn't work btw.

[HD]

Originally Posted by Munchkins

I'll say it again, id rather them be locked in a room with ragged clothing and just gruel to eat, much more of a pathetic existence than a quick death penalty

This.

What the **** is wrong with people?!

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Munchkins

I'll say it again, id rather them be locked in a room with ragged clothing and just gruel to eat, much more of a pathetic existence than a quick death penalty

I would agree with this if prison was like that. In reality, its pretty much a holiday compared to what it SHOULD be. Convicts rights and all that...

[Jordan.]

As the trio walked into the woods, Lynch stabbed Kline. Schannauer claimed he poured gasoline on Kline while she was still alive.

Lynch then ignited her and the men fled.

wow this is a seriously horrible thing to imagine. RIP

[Nedusa]

There is no Death Penalty is this Country.........but reading about this case I wish there was and I wish the family could ask for the method of execution to be the same as the method of murder....

See the grin wiped off their faces as their faces melt as they are burned alive....

[Shaun]

It was in Pennsylvania, Nedusa, apparently there's a Berks county and Lancaster there.

To be honest, I wouldn't really care if they were executed. They'd deserve it, but also deserve worse. Evil in its purest form.

[Nedusa]

Originally Posted by Shaun

It was in Pennsylvania, Nedusa, apparently there's a Berks county and Lancaster there.

To be honest, I wouldn't really care if they were executed. They'd deserve it, but also deserve worse. Evil in its purest form.

Oh.........Ok hope the prosecutors get their wish. I am utterly staggered by the evil that is done by humans to humans

We have the capacity to achieve so much and the capacity to love our fellow man, so to see barbaric acts of violence carried out like this makes me sad and embarrassed to be part of this human race.

Maybe one day in the future we will have evolved enough not to act like this but judging by the sheer number of murders,tortures,rape, violent muggings, executions,beheadings, religious murders, suicide bombings...etc...etc...

that day ain't coming any time soon..........!!!!!

[armand.kay]

Originally Posted by Munchkins

I'll say it again, id rather them be locked in a room with ragged clothing and just gruel to eat, much more of a pathetic existence than a quick death penalty

I think they should use criminally like this for experiments instead of animals.... Atleast then they'll serve some use to society.

Originally Posted by armand.kay

I think they should use criminally like this for experiments instead of animals.... Atleast then they'll serve some use to society.

Because then we'd be so much better than the murderers themselves.

[Z]

This is one of the most shocking things I've ever read in my life. These are not people who deserve the right to live. There is no remorse in their eyes - I know it's just a picture but they just don't look right in the head. What a horrible, horrible crime to commit.

[MeMyselfAndI]

As the trio walked into the woods, Lynch stabbed Kline. Schannauer claimed he poured gasoline on Kline while she was still alive.

I feel sick, RIP

[Jezzy]

She had a mental disability. She trusted them.

No sanctity of life any more. Saddening, horrifying, disgusting, barbaric...I could go on.