In the early morning hours of October 18, 2019, 53-year-old Jeffrey Werner, a male resident of Whitehall, Pennsylvania, was fatally shot in his home on Pennsylvania Street. The incident was ruled a homicide. Police responded to a report of a shooting at approximately 4:14 a.m. and discovered Werner with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators from the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force and the Whitehall Township Police Department found that Werner's home office had been ransacked, and a safe was missing. The investigation quickly identified two individuals, Dakota Schmoyer, then 27, and Michael Layton, then 26, as persons of interest. It was determined that Schmoyer and Layton had conspired to rob Werner.
According to the investigation, Schmoyer, who was already incarcerated on unrelated charges, had suggested Werner as a target for the robbery. She later testified that she had a prior relationship with him. On the night of the incident, Layton went to Werner's home wearing a mask and gloves. When Werner opened the door, Layton shot him. Afterward, Layton and Schmoyer stole the safe from his office and fled the scene.
Both Schmoyer and Layton were arrested and faced charges of criminal homicide, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery. Layton was charged with first-degree murder as the shooter, while Schmoyer was charged with second-degree murder as an accomplice. Michael Layton was ultimately sentenced to 28 to 60 years in state prison for his role in the murder. Dakota Schmoyer pleaded guilty to her involvement and received a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.
