Butts arrest in Boob case among odd Pa. news reports

Submitted for your perusal, a journey into a wondrous land, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. That's the signpost up ahead - your next stop . . .

Pennsylvania.

Cue the Erie music.

There's been a recent streak of weird - though not necessarily funny - news from around the state.

Consider these three stories (with apologies to The Twilight Zone).

Butts arrested in Boob murder case. On Friday, state police arrested Kermit Butts, 26, of Madisonburg, Centre County, in connection with the killing last year of Samuel Boob, 29, of Potter Township. Previously arrested and charged with first degree murder were Boob's wife, Miranda, who allegedly planned the slaying, and Ronald Heichel of Bellefonte, accused of shooting of the victim twice with a shotgun, according to police. Butts allegedly drove Heichel, a co-worker, to the victim's house, where the shooting occurred, and then drove Heichel away. Butts was charged with aggravated assault and providing aid while hindering apprehension or prosecution. Court papers say that Miranda Boob and Heichel were lovers, according to the Centre Daily Times.

Smoke gets Smuck arrested. Red smoke coming out of a bag does look suspicious. So when police got a call from a witness, who noted a license number, authorities headed for the home of Douglas Smuck, 50, in Wrightsville, York County. Seems there was a bank robbery, and someone at the bank managed to slip a dye pack in with the loot. Smuck, who admitted to the crime, was being held on $1 million bail, according to reports.

Woman protects boyfriend by claiming she was kidnapped? Amber Marie Rayoni, 22, of Uniontown, south of Pittsburgh, was in an uncomfortable situation Monday when her boyfriend left her stranded on a road after an argument. But she didn't exactly improve her lot in life by telling folks at a nearby campground she'd been kidnapped. After the police arrived, she confessed to making up the story, and they discovered several outstanding Fayette County traffic warrants. She was also expected to be charged with making a false report. Rayoni made up the tale "so that her boyfriend wouldn't get in trouble for leaving her there," according to the Herald-Standard.

Wearing just underwear provokes wiffle bat beating. On Aug. 17, about 4:30 a.m., Donald Fehr was sitting in his underwear on his Bethlehem porch when he was approached by three men One of them, Hector Morales Jr., 19, said his girlfriend would be visiting, and he would prefer that Fehr put on more clothes. Fehr refused. Morales allegedly attacked Fehr, first with a wiffle bat, then with fists after the bat broke, fracturing Fehr's jaw and skull, and knocking out several teeth, according to police. Early last week, Morales was charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and other offenses. He was in Berks County Prison on unrelated charges, according to the Allentown Morning Call.