On a summer evening in Pylesville, Maryland, the tranquility of the 1700 block of Scott Road was shattered by gunfire. It was Saturday, July 1, 2023, when Timothy Wayne Witherite, a 62-year-old male, was fatally shot inside his residence. The violence did not end there, as another man, 70-year-old David Joseph Octavec, was also shot and killed outside the home. A family dog was also slain in the incident. First responders arrived at the scene around 8:49 p.m.
to find both Witherite and Octavec suffering from gunshot wounds to their upper bodies; both were pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led law enforcement to a suspect. Steven M. Nolan, a 53-year-old man from Pennsylvania, was identified as the alleged shooter. Approximately two hours after the shooting, Nolan was taken into custody without incident by the Pennsylvania State Police. According to the initial investigation, authorities believe Nolan first shot Witherite inside the house before shooting Octavec outside and then fleeing the scene.
Following his arrest, Nolan was held in a Pennsylvania jail, awaiting extradition to Maryland to face charges for the murders. While a motive for the shooting was not immediately released and remained under investigation, authorities in Harford County, Maryland, proceeded with obtaining murder charges against Nolan. The case remains a stark reminder of a violent night that claimed the lives of two men and their pet.
