Domestic Incident In North Woodbury Twp. Leaves Two Dead

Two people who were involved in a deadly domestic dispute in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, just outside of Martinsburg Borough, were both found dead on Monday morning, Jan. 21.

According to police, Cassandra Lynn Appleman, 30, and Sheldon Howard Appleman, 49, were found dead in a home along Cove Mountain Road around 11:30 Monday morning, Jan. 21.

According to Trooper Joseph Dunsmore of the Pennsylvania State Police, Hollidaysburg, a neighbor called police on Monday morning to request a "welfare check" on the couple.

The neighbor was concerned because the snow that had accumulated from that weekend's snowstorm had not been cleared from the home's driveway or either of the cars.

Emergency personnel from North Woodbury Township, Martinsburg and Roaring Spring were dispatched to check on the home and found the couple dead. State Police were called to the scene to investigate.

According to police reports, the Applemans were engaged in a "violent" physical altercation and attacked each other with a knife, inflicting fatal wounds to each other.

The deaths have been ruled a double homicide.

Blair County Coroner Patricia Ross said autopsies performed on Tuesday, Jan. 22, confirmed that both victims died of stab wounds.

Ross said autopsies indicated that Cassandra Appleman most likely died first.

Ross said the autopsies showed that the angle of the stab wounds were inconsistent with self-inflicted wounds and that both victims "died at the hands of the other."

Based on the results of the autopsies, Ross said it appears that Cassandra had stabbed Sheldon first, and that Sheldon had gotten the knife away from Cassandra and stabbed her.

The autopsies showed Cassandra had defensive wounds on her arms, indicating she was trying to protect herself.

Police said no additional parties are being sought in connection with this incident and the investigation is ongoing.

The Herald has been unable to confirm reports that the couple had children.

The Herald will publish more information on this story in next week's edition.