59-year-old woman died after the 54-year-old man she attracted “like a moth to a flame” stabbed her to death just because she rejected his advances; man arrested
Pennsylvania – In a devastating case out of Pennsylvania, authorities say a 54‑year‑old man with a long record of violence toward women, identified as G. Whittier, has been arrested and charged after fatally stabbing a 59‑year‑old woman he was attracted to “like a moth to a flame,” identified as P. Puskar, inside her apartment. Investigators believe the attack occurred after Puskar refused his advances, a confrontation that ended with her desperate words: “You’re not touching me.”
Whittier is now facing criminal homicide and tampering with evidence charges. Prosecutors describe the killing as a senseless act fueled by anger and rejection in the early morning hours of November 25. His charges reflect not only the deadly assault but also alleged attempts to hide or remove evidence afterward. Detectives say surveillance footage, witness interviews, and conflicting statements from Whittier all point directly to his involvement.
Court records paint a troubling picture of Whittier’s past. In 2015, he was accused of restraining a woman for days and brutally assaulting her, a case that ended with a guilty plea to aggravated assault. Another domestic violence case in 2021 involved a woman who testified that Whittier attacked her when she tried to end their relationship. He served time in both matters, underscoring a history of aggression that prosecutors say escalated into this fatal encounter.
According to investigators, the events began late Friday night at an apartment in the complex where Whittier was drinking with a friend. At one point, Puskar stopped by the unit to look for someone she knew. After a brief exchange, Whittier asked her for cigarettes and, after leaving the room, followed her back to her nearby apartment. There, investigators say he suggested they have se-. Puskar rejected him firmly. Hours later, Whittier’s friend called Puskar’s phone at approximately 2:40 a.m. Whittier answered. In the background, Puskar could be heard saying, “You’re not touching me,” a statement police believe captured the moment she realized she was in danger. Investigators view that as a crucial moment indicating the confrontation had turned dangerous.
Calls placed at 3:57 a.m. and 10:23 a.m., along with repeated knocks on Puskar’s door, all went unanswered. Friends and neighbors grew increasingly alarmed when the normally responsive woman did not pick up her phone. Surveillance footage from the complex then showed Whittier leaving the building shortly after 7 a.m., his hood pulled tightly around his face and a Canada Dry ginger ale box in his hands. Detectives believe the box may have been used to carry away items connected to the crime.
By Sunday morning, more than 24 hours after anyone last heard from her, someone entered Puskar’s apartment and found her deceased on the kitchen floor. Cans of ginger ale were scattered nearby. An autopsy later revealed she had suffered multiple stab wounds. Her death was ruled a homicide. When investigators searched Whittier’s residence, they found none of the clothing he appeared to be wearing on the surveillance footage, nor the sweatshirt belonging to Puskar that he was believed to have taken. The ginger ale box was also missing.
Whittier was taken into custody the following Wednesday. He has been denied bail and remains held at the county prison, with a preliminary hearing set for December 8. Puskar’s obituary described her death as “an act of terrible violence.” As those who knew the victim mourn her loss, many are unsettled by the thought that an everyday walk back to her apartment ended in tragedy simply because she said no.
