Crime & Safety
Westmoreland County, PA Cold Case: Hunter's 2005 Murder Unsolved, $5,000 Reward
Latrobe, PA – Nearly 21 years after a Pennsylvania hunter was found shot to death beneath his tree stand in Westmoreland County, state police are renewing their appeal for information, with a $5,000 r
By Lena Wood · 2026-10-13T14:21:06.356Z
Latrobe, PA – Nearly 21 years after a Pennsylvania hunter was found shot to death beneath his tree stand in Westmoreland County, state police are renewing their appeal for information, with a $5,000 reward being offered for information that solves the case.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, investigators with Troop A's Kiski Valley Criminal Investigation Unit continue investigating the November 2005 homicide of Steven Andrew Kachonik in Loyalhanna Township, east of Pittsburgh.
Kachonik went hunting November 12, 2005, but never returned home. His family contacted state police around 9 p.m. that evening to report him missing.
The following morning, November 13, Kachonik was discovered dead beneath his portable tree stand in a wooded area approximately one eighth mile west of Route 981 and half a mile south of Robinson Road.
Investigators determined that he had been shot.
An earlier report by the Tribune Review described Kachonik as a father of two who enjoyed hunting and frequently visited the wooded property near his family's home.
The report stated that Kachonik suffered a fatal shotgun wound and was knocked from his tree stand.
Family members previously expressed concerns that the shooting may have been deliberate, although investigators have not publicly identified a suspect in the information provided.
Despite years of investigation, the homicide remains unsolved.
Pennsylvania State Police are now asking anyone with information about Kachonik's death to come forward, even if the information dates back to the original investigation.
A $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to solving the case.
Anyone with information can contact Pennsylvania State Police Kiski Valley at 724 697 5780 or the PSP Tips hotline at 1 800 472 8477.
Tips may also be submitted online through Pennsylvania State Police's confidential tip portal .
Investigators hope renewed public attention will help bring answers to Kachonik's surviving family members.