Younger brother pleads guilty to 2021 murder in Blair County

BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) Nearly three years after a man was stabbed to death, his younger brother pleaded guilty.

Vasudev Aswathappa, now 21 years old, pleaded guilty Monday, April 15, to the third-degree murder of his 24-year-old brother in 2021, when he was just 18. He’s now facing 20 to 40 years in prison, according to Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks.

In July 2021, state police were called to a home in Frankstown Township after Aswathappa called and claimed his brother had committed suicide. While investigating, Aswathappa was taken into custody where he admitted to stabbing his brother numerous times, including in the back, the original criminal complaint showed.

Aswathappa told police that after stabbing his brother, he went outside and cleaned off the knife before throwing it, and his bloody socks, into the woods. He then got a clean knife and dipped it in blood and left it next to the body before leaving the residence.

According to the original charges, Aswathappa claimed he went into the basement of the home and confronted his brother about ruining his childhood with mental and physical abuse. This led to a violent argument and him stabbing his brother.

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