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Homicide victim's mother tells Mt. Pleasant man: 'No more drugs' | TribLIVE.com
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Homicide victim's mother tells Mt. Pleasant man: 'No more drugs'

Rich Cholodofsky
5205066_web1_Barnhart
Westmoreland County Prison
Robert S. Barnhart of Mt. Pleasant.

Cathy Clawson had a simple message for the man who pleaded guilty Friday to causing her daughter’s death in 2020.

“Just come out a better man. No more drugs,” Clawson told Robert Seth Barnhart after he was sentenced to serve 3-6 years in prison for his role in the crash that killed his longtime girlfriend, 44-year-old Susan Clawson of Uniontown.

Barnhart, 42, of Mt. Pleasant, pleaded guilty to charges of vehicular homicide and other offenses. Police said Barnhart was under the influence of methamphetamine, fentanyl and amphetamine prescription pills when he was behind the wheel of a 2007 Buick LeSabre that struck and dragged Clawson to her death at a New Stanton roundabout on Sept. 10, 2020.

According to court records, Barnhart was the car’s driver when it stopped at a New Stanton area convenience store, but moved to the passenger’s seat as Clawson attempted to drive away. The car became stuck on a curb and Barnhart moved back to the driver’s seat and put the car in reverse. Clawson was behind the car as he accelerated, police said.

In addition to vehicular homicide, Barnhart also pleaded guilty to two charges that he drove while under the influence of drugs as well as possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

“I am sorry. I loved that girl,” Barnhart said during the hearing.

Westmoreland County County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears sentenced Barnhart and ordered he repay the Clawson family for funeral expenses.

Cathy Clawson said Barnhart and her daughter were together for about 8 years.

“She was my life,” Clawson said. “She got mixed up with the wrong people and she was getting her life together and all of a sudden, she got pulled back into it.”

Rich Cholodofsky is a TribLive reporter covering Westmoreland County government, politics and courts. He can be reached at rcholodofsky@triblive.com.

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Categories: Local | Westmoreland
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