In a tragic turn of events, the life of 20-year-old Alicia Weaver of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was cut short in November 2010. The young woman was reported missing on a Saturday afternoon, and her body was discovered the following Sunday evening. She was found off a dirt path in a wooded area in Foster Township. An autopsy later confirmed that Weaver's death was a homicide.
Investigators determined that Alicia Weaver had been shot. It was revealed during the investigation that she may have had associations with individuals involved in drugs and prostitution and reportedly owed some people money. Her sister lamented that even if she owed money, it was not a reason for her to lose her life.
The investigation into Weaver's murder led to the arrest of Benjamin Westbrooks of West Hazleton. In May 2012, a jury found Westbrooks guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting death of Alicia Weaver. Prosecutors argued that Weaver owed Westbrooks money. A key witness in the trial, Brandon Crum, testified that he was in the car with Westbrooks and saw him kill Weaver.
Despite Westbrooks' defense team attempting to place the blame on Crum, the jury delivered a guilty verdict after more than seven hours of deliberation. Following the verdict, Alicia Weaver's family expressed their relief and sorrow. Benjamin Westbrooks was immediately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
