In the small community of Rural Valley, Pennsylvania, the life of 56-year-old David Kimberly came to a tragic and unexpected end. A man known by his loved ones as a caring brother, he was an Army veteran who later worked as a carpenter and then a carpet installer for over two decades. His story took a dark turn in the fall of 2024, leading to a police investigation that would uncover a grim family plot.
David Kimberly was reported missing by his wife, Jennifer Lee Kimberly, on September
28, 2024. She informed authorities that he had packed some of his belongings and left their home on Reefer Hollow Road five days earlier, on September 23rd, after she had asked for a divorce. For weeks, his whereabouts remained a mystery, concerning his family who initiated a welfare check when they couldn't reach him. The first significant break in the case came on October 12th, when his van was discovered in a wooded area near his residence. The vehicle had been intentionally concealed, painted with camouflage and covered with foliage, suggesting foul play.
The investigation quickly led police to question Jennifer Kimberly and her 33-year-old son from a previous relationship, Cody Weiland. During the interview, Weiland confessed to the murder of his stepfather. He admitted to shooting David Kimberly with a. 22 caliber long gun at their home on September 28th. Following the murder, Weiland wrapped his stepfather's body in a tarp and transported it to a remote location in Jefferson County, where it was later recovered by state troopers. He also took steps to conceal the crime by removing the couch on which Kimberly was sitting when he was shot and replacing the carpet in the house.
Further investigation revealed that Jennifer Kimberly was not the concerned wife she had appeared to be. She eventually admitted to police that she knew her husband was not missing, despite being the one to file the report. She confessed to helping her son, Cody Weiland, move the couch on which David was shot into a van and gathering his clothing, shoes, and knives to be disposed of. She also lied to investigators, claiming her son was not at the house when they came to interview him.
Cody Weiland was arrested and faced a series of serious charges, including first-degree murder, criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and making false reports. He was taken to the Armstrong County Jail to await arraignment. His case was held for court, with a trial scheduled to begin in April of the following year. Jennifer Lee Kimberly, aged 54, was also arrested and charged with hindering apprehension, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence. After being placed in the Armstrong County Jail with her bail set at $25,000, she waived her preliminary hearing, and her case was forwarded to the Armstrong County Court.
