On the evening of May 16, 2021, 40-year-old Jacob 'Jake' Robert Erdeljac and his girlfriend, 27-year-old Mara Casale, were returning to their home in Claridge, Pennsylvania, after a motorcycle ride. As they pulled into their driveway, they were ambushed by a gunman who had been lying in wait. The assailant opened fire, killing them both. A friend discovered their bodies the following morning.
The investigation quickly led police to 53-year-old Victor Steban.
Authorities alleged that Steban was motivated by a grudge against Erdeljac, telling investigators he felt 'disrespected.' Steban admitted to waiting for the couple to return home and then shooting them with an AR-15 rifle. He first shot Erdeljac while he was still on his motorcycle and then shot Casale as she tried to flee. Following the murders, Steban stole Erdeljac's truck from the driveway.
The double homicide was part of a larger crime spree attributed to Steban, which included setting his own home on fire, a car bombing, and multiple drive-by shootings in the days leading up to the murders. A large-scale manhunt ensued, and Steban was arrested on a highway near his home in North Huntington Township.
Victor Steban was charged with two counts of criminal homicide, burglary, robbery, and firearms offenses. Prosecutors initially intended to seek the death penalty. However, in June 2022, Steban pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This plea deal ensured he would never be a free man again, bringing a measure of justice to the families of Jacob Erdeljac and Mara Casale.
