Trial of woman accused of killing, dismembering parents delayed as defense attorney takes medical leave

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The trial of a 44-year-old Abington woman accused of killing her parents and dismembering their corpses is being delayed until October as a new defense attorney takes over the case.

Jury selection was scheduled for Monday. However, Gregory Nestor, of the Public Defender’s Office, told Judge William Carpenter that the head of the office’s homicide defense unit, suffered a head injury and is now on medical leave.

The trial is now slated to begin Oct. 21.

When Carpenter questioned the length of the continuance, Nestor and Samantha Cauffman, head of the district attorney’s homicide unit, explained they agreed to the date based on the availability of medical experts expected to testify in the case.

Beck pleaded not guilty last year to two counts each of first- and third-degree murder, corpse abuse, and possessing instruments of crime — a firearm and a chainsaw.

Investigators say in Jan. 2023, she shot her parents, 73-year-old Reid and 72-year-old Miriam — covering their faces with a pillow — then used a chainsaw to dismember them. Prosecutors allege Beck killed them after they caught her stealing from them.

Beck faces a possible life sentence if convicted. Cauffman said last August her office won’t seek the death penalty , as “the required legal factors are not present in this case.”