Authorities in Westmoreland County have charged a man in a 2007 cold case.
53-year-old Charles Ream of Latrobe is accused of killing 22-year-old Samantha Lang in her Derry Township home 16 years ago.
Lang was found in a pool of blood, her throat slashed.
A rear door was forced open and the house Lang was found in was ransacked.
Ream was interviewed as part of the initial investigation. It was revealed he had purchased heroin off Lang the day before her body was found.
State police say two informants told them Ream admitted to killing Lang.
He is charged with criminal homicide, burglary, robbery and theft. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 9.
In a statement, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said, "This was a collaborative effort among our dedicated Assistant District Attorneys and investigators from Pennsylvania State Police who never gave up on this case and I commend them for their diligence. I cannot imagine the pain, anguish and grief the Lang family has suffered after all of this time. After 16 years, the perseverance and commitment shown to this investigation led to this arrest today and we hope it begins to bring justice and some relief to Samantha Lang's family."
