Man Died Of Head Wounds

An autopsy has revealed that Robert R. Barna, 32, of Indiana Ave., Monessen died as a result of massive multiple blows to the skull.
Barna's body was found wrapped in a blanket about 20 feet from the entrance to a mine off Route 906 near the Village of Naomi between Belle Vernon and Fayette City.
The body was bound with tape and rope and a plastic bag was tied over the head.
Two Washington County youngsters found the body when they were walking through the woods about 3 p.m. Saturday.
Authorities said the body was partly decomposed and had been dead about two weeks. The mine owned by Salvage Miller of Belle Vernon is located about 100 yards off Route 906.
Private funeral services are to be held this morning at 10 o'clock at the Howard McCrory Funeral Home in Fayette City.
Burial is to be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Barna was predeceased by his father, Richard.
The victim is survived by his mother, Mrs. Ann Crilley, of Monessen; his step father James Crilley of Monessen; a half brother, Patrick Crilley of Monessen; and three daughters, Kimberly, Bobbi, and Tracy, all living with their mother in Sun Bluff, Neb.
Body Found At Old Mine-No Clues
No new leads were reported today as police continued their probe into the apparent murder of 32 year old Robert Richard Barna of Indiana Ave, Monessen.
Two Washington County youngsters hiking through the wood Saturday came upon the body near an abandoned mine in the Belle Vernon area.
They notices something wrapped in a blanket about 29 feet from the mine entrance. Upon further investigation they spotted a ringed finger sticking out of the blanket. They then ran for help.
The body was found in a mine owned by Salvage Miller of Belle Vernon. The mine shaft itself is located about 100 yards of Route 906 between Belle Vernon and Fayette City, about one mile outside of the village of Naomi.
State Police said the body was found around 3 p.m. The body itself was bound with tape and rope and there was a plastic bag over the head.
The office of Dr. W. Ralston McGee, Fayette County coroner, said this morning that an autopsy performed last night revealed that the victim died as a result of massive, multiple blows to the skull.
Neil Marshall, chief of police in Washington Twp. last night told the Herald-Standard the plastic bag was tied around the victim's head. He also said there was a lot of blood on the body and cuts around the head.
"The entrance to the mind had been sealed with cement blocks," he said, "at least until two months ago."
Marshall also said the body was decomposed when it was found and the victim had probably been dead several weeks.
And the chief hinted, although he wouldn't elaborate, the man may have been killed elsewhere and then brought to the mine. Monessen city police last night said that Barna had not been reported missing from his home.
Yesterday, Washington County Fire Chief Ron Sotta and about 40 volunteer firemen were called by State Police.
"They called about one o'clock and asked us to search about a mile radius of the area," he said last night.
Washington Twp police ad State Police also took part in the search of the wooded area. McGee last night said no funeral director had yet taken the body and thus there was no obituary information.
Barna had previously owned and operated a body garage in Donora on 8th St. and Meldon Ave. and had been involved with automobiles for several years.
The Herald-Standard learned last night that Barna had been arrested on different occasions on criminal offenses, but there was no immediate word if he had ever been convicted.The mine itself is the same site where officials believed Anthony Scotchell, a well know Morgantown nightclub owner was murdered several years ago.
He was then put in the truck of his car and removed from the scene. The body was later found in a motel parking lot near Pittsburgh.
A Monessen man was tried and aquitted of being involved in the case in Fayette County Court in the late 80's