Teh One Who Knocks
08-24-2016, 12:37 PM
By Valerie Edwards For Dailymail.com and Associated Press
Two friends of a Penn State professor have been charged with his murder after allegedly pushing him 80 feet off a cliff into a quarry because they thought they were named in his will.
Danelle Geier, 32, and George Ishler, 39, told police that they believed media studies professor, Ronald Bettig, named them in a new version of his will, according to the New York Daily News.
Rockview State Police found the 56-year-old's body in a quarry on Wednesday.
Bettig, who a colleague said would be referred to as the 'nutty professor' by those who did not know him well, had been friends with suspected killers, Geier and Ishler.
The pair, who police said 'were known drug users' are accused of killing Bettig for the benefits, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Daily News.
http://i.imgur.com/bWsyepE.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/lxuiH4U.jpg
Authorities said Ishler and the professor were friends and Geier was living with him, according to the Centre Daily Times.
The two originally plotted to have Ishler drown Bettig in the ocean during a trip to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, and later came up with the plot to kill him at Centre County quarry, located just off Rimmey Road in Potter Township, court documents said.
During the trip to Rehoboth Beach, authorities allege, Geier texted Ishler, 'So ready I am pissed off', which police believe was a reference to being ready to kill Bettig because she was angry that he had criticized how she was raising her son.
Court documents say that the pair persuaded Bettig to travel to the quarry by telling him they could harvest marijuana there.
http://i.imgur.com/LATvyiO.jpg
Ishler allegedly pushed Bettig, who fell 80 feet to his death, police said.
Geier told police that she and Ishler also agreed to stage the scene with items such as Bettig's car to make it appear as if he was alone, and they agreed to report him missing three days later, according to court documents.
They put Bettig's water bottles, flashlight, hand rake and a bag near the quarry in an attempt to stage the scene.
Bettig disappeared on August 12 and the two waited until August 15 to tell police the scholar was missing.
http://i.imgur.com/IklbOus.jpg
They told police that Bettig and his vehicle had been missing for three days and suggested that he may have gone to California, authorities said in court documents.
The two were found out after officers noticed inconsistencies with their stories.
According to Penn State's website, Bettig joined the College of Communications in 1988 and was an associate professor of media studies.
He taught courses on the political economy of communications and wrote at least two books on the subject.
In a statement from the university Dean Marie Hardin of the College of Communications said: 'We are deeply saddened by the loss. He was a part of the fabric of this College for many years.
'All except our very newest faculty and staff members very likely knew Ron, who was one of our longest-tenured faculty members.
'Ron was the kind of teacher who connected powerfully with students, who found his classes in political economy - at both the undergraduate and graduate levels - transformative.'
Anthony Olorunnisola, head of the department of film-video and media studies, said Bettig was intensely private and kept in touch with a handful of close friends that he had had since high school.
He said Bettig fought for the underdog and, as an example, would not hesitate to help those struggling with unemployment.
'Across the domains of teaching, research and service, the common factor that characterized him was his nonconformist ways,' Olorunnisola said.
'Over 22 years of working together in varied capacities, I came to know him as a man with tons of healthy skepticism and courage of conviction who readily questioned the status quo and led others, especially his students, to interrogate received knowledge.
'In his classes, where he adopted the Socratic method, that included re-examining assumptions about the 'innately good values' of capitalism.
'Those who didn't know him well enough considered him a "nutty professor" or a "communist" who bucked the trend.
'He was well-aware of the reputation and remained comfortable with who he was.'
Geier faces charges for murder, aggravated assault, evidence-tampering and conspiracy.
Ishler had already been charged with first-and third-degree murder on Friday.
Court documents don't list an attorney for Geier and attorney information for Ishler also wasn't available.
Two friends of a Penn State professor have been charged with his murder after allegedly pushing him 80 feet off a cliff into a quarry because they thought they were named in his will.
Danelle Geier, 32, and George Ishler, 39, told police that they believed media studies professor, Ronald Bettig, named them in a new version of his will, according to the New York Daily News.
Rockview State Police found the 56-year-old's body in a quarry on Wednesday.
Bettig, who a colleague said would be referred to as the 'nutty professor' by those who did not know him well, had been friends with suspected killers, Geier and Ishler.
The pair, who police said 'were known drug users' are accused of killing Bettig for the benefits, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Daily News.
http://i.imgur.com/bWsyepE.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/lxuiH4U.jpg
Authorities said Ishler and the professor were friends and Geier was living with him, according to the Centre Daily Times.
The two originally plotted to have Ishler drown Bettig in the ocean during a trip to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, and later came up with the plot to kill him at Centre County quarry, located just off Rimmey Road in Potter Township, court documents said.
During the trip to Rehoboth Beach, authorities allege, Geier texted Ishler, 'So ready I am pissed off', which police believe was a reference to being ready to kill Bettig because she was angry that he had criticized how she was raising her son.
Court documents say that the pair persuaded Bettig to travel to the quarry by telling him they could harvest marijuana there.
http://i.imgur.com/LATvyiO.jpg
Ishler allegedly pushed Bettig, who fell 80 feet to his death, police said.
Geier told police that she and Ishler also agreed to stage the scene with items such as Bettig's car to make it appear as if he was alone, and they agreed to report him missing three days later, according to court documents.
They put Bettig's water bottles, flashlight, hand rake and a bag near the quarry in an attempt to stage the scene.
Bettig disappeared on August 12 and the two waited until August 15 to tell police the scholar was missing.
http://i.imgur.com/IklbOus.jpg
They told police that Bettig and his vehicle had been missing for three days and suggested that he may have gone to California, authorities said in court documents.
The two were found out after officers noticed inconsistencies with their stories.
According to Penn State's website, Bettig joined the College of Communications in 1988 and was an associate professor of media studies.
He taught courses on the political economy of communications and wrote at least two books on the subject.
In a statement from the university Dean Marie Hardin of the College of Communications said: 'We are deeply saddened by the loss. He was a part of the fabric of this College for many years.
'All except our very newest faculty and staff members very likely knew Ron, who was one of our longest-tenured faculty members.
'Ron was the kind of teacher who connected powerfully with students, who found his classes in political economy - at both the undergraduate and graduate levels - transformative.'
Anthony Olorunnisola, head of the department of film-video and media studies, said Bettig was intensely private and kept in touch with a handful of close friends that he had had since high school.
He said Bettig fought for the underdog and, as an example, would not hesitate to help those struggling with unemployment.
'Across the domains of teaching, research and service, the common factor that characterized him was his nonconformist ways,' Olorunnisola said.
'Over 22 years of working together in varied capacities, I came to know him as a man with tons of healthy skepticism and courage of conviction who readily questioned the status quo and led others, especially his students, to interrogate received knowledge.
'In his classes, where he adopted the Socratic method, that included re-examining assumptions about the 'innately good values' of capitalism.
'Those who didn't know him well enough considered him a "nutty professor" or a "communist" who bucked the trend.
'He was well-aware of the reputation and remained comfortable with who he was.'
Geier faces charges for murder, aggravated assault, evidence-tampering and conspiracy.
Ishler had already been charged with first-and third-degree murder on Friday.
Court documents don't list an attorney for Geier and attorney information for Ishler also wasn't available.