Accused: Brother’s shooting a ‘mercy killing’

BY STACI WILSON

A Montrose area man told police he shot his brother in the head in a “mercy killing.”

Forest Webster, 52, faces one count of criminal homicide in connection with the Sunday, Nov. 17 death of his brother, John Webster, 55, of Jessup Twp.

John Webster’s body was found by police in the yard of the Rt. 706 residence with a gunshot wound to his head and one to his upper back, according to the affidavit.

Webster turned himself into police at the Montrose Police Station Sunday morning at about 10 a.m. and told the officer on duty that he needed a coroner.

According to the affidavit, Webster told the Montrose Patrolman Laura Watson that he shot his brother at about 9:30 a.m. “because he was cutting the phone lines.”

Pennsylvania State Police Tpr. John Oliver, along with Susquehanna County Sheriff Lance Benedict interviewed Webster at the Montrose Police Station.

According to the affidavit, Webster told police: “It was a mercy killing, my brother is not rational.”

Webster told the law enforcement officials that John Webster had been cutting wires, damaging locks and vehicles.

He went on to tell police he shot his brother with a 22 long rifle “a bolt action with a clip.”

According to the affidavit, Webster then ended the interview and invoked his right to speak with an attorney.

Police were already at the scene and discovered John Webster laying face down in the yard with an apparent gunshot wound to his head.

Two empty .22 long rifle casings were found just outside the door to the residence.

A search warrant was executed on the home and the weapon was discovered on the bed, where Webster had told police it was located.

Webster was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Suzanne Brainard in Clifford, and remanded to the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility with no bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled to be held Monday, Nov. 25 in Montrose District Court.