Andy Close
WARREN, Pa. – An attempted homicide charge against a Warren teen will move ahead after a preliminary hearing was held on Tuesday.
Caden J. Beckford, 17, was charged last week after allegedly attempting to poison his stepfather, Shannon Wolfe (the victim).
District Judge Raymond Zydonik found that the case met the burden of proof and will now move forward to the Court of Common Pleas.
First Assistant District Attorney Cody Brown confirmed that Beckford will be tried as an adult.
The victim testified on Tuesday that he had gotten a call from his wife on Aug. 8 asking him to turn Beckford’s Wi-Fi off on his phone and his PlayStation due to behavioral issues.
“When you pull his stuff away, he does get triggered,” the victim testified.
Wolfe returned home to find his refrigerator had been turned to its lowest setting, but “didn’t think anything of it.”
The victim removed two bottles of Mountain Dew that Beckford had allegedly tampered with and drank the first one.
“I took both sodas and consumed one,” he testified. “On Wednesday I started feeling ill with stomach pains and constipation and threw up a couple of times.”
He then testified that the second bottle “was clumpy,” but didn’t consume it.
The victim’s wife then questioned Beckford, at which point, the victim testified, that Beckford “admitted to putting chemicals in the drinks.”
The victim’s wife then called the City of Warren Police, and Beckford left the residence, where he was apprehended a short time late by the police on Locust St., near the residence where he lives on Mead St.
When asked if he knew why police were speaking to him, Beckford allegedly said “for the attempted homicide.”
City of Warren Police Sgt. Matthew Mumford testified that he interviewed Beckford, who admitted to putting furniture polish, as well as wasp spray into the bottles.
“He did it so (the victim) would drink it and wanted him dead,” Mumford testified as to what Beckford said when asked why he tampered with the drinks. “He made it clear he did not like him”
Mumford said the second bottle was taken into evidence and has since been sent to the Pennsylvania State Police lab in Erie for analysis.
“No report has been received yet,” Mumford testified.
Bail for Beckford has been denied.
