Rebecca Solt, a 40-year-old woman from Hyde, Pennsylvania, tragically lost her life on August 27, 2020, in what authorities ruled as a homicide. Solt, a mother of three, had been in an abusive relationship with her former boyfriend, Anthony Boone, for nearly a decade. In an attempt to escape the cycle of abuse, she had sought refuge at a safe location with the help of her manager at Burger King, where she worked. However, Boone allegedly tracked her down and fatally shot her three times at close range while she sat on a swing outside the residence. Her five-year-old daughter, whom she shared with Boone, witnessed the horrifying attack.
Lawrence Township Police identified Boone as the primary suspect in Solt’s murder. Reports indicate that Solt had filed a Protection From Abuse order against Boone in July 2020, which was still active at the time of her death. Boone had a history of violent behavior, with multiple prior convictions for assault and making terroristic threats. Despite the PFA, he was able to obtain a firearm, a. 308-caliber rifle, which was used in the attack. Authorities were investigating how and where he acquired the weapon.
Following the murder, Boone fled the scene, prompting a manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Lawrence Township Police, Pennsylvania State Police, and Clearfield Borough Police. He was eventually located near Hogback Bridge in Pike Township, where officers surrounded him. Boone was armed with the same rifle believed to have been used in Solt’s killing. When ordered to surrender, he instead turned the weapon on himself, firing a round into his upper torso. He was rushed to Penn Highlands Clearfield and later transferred to UPMC Altoona for treatment. Despite medical efforts, Boone succumbed to his self-inflicted injuries on September 15, 2020.
Solt’s death left a profound impact on her family and community. Her children, aged 5, 12, and 19, were left without their mother, and her first husband had passed away two years prior. A fundraiser was established to support her children and seek justice for her tragic death. The case highlighted the dangers of domestic violence and the challenges victims face in escaping abusive relationships. Authorities continued to investigate Boone’s actions leading up to the murder, including how he obtained the firearm despite legal restrictions.
