Authorities in Clarion County charged 32-year-old Joel Tanner Stark of Rimersburg with several criminal conspiracy crimes related to the death and moving of Devan Knapp’s body.

19-year-old Knapp disappeared on January 11 of this year.  Her body was found four days later in Millcreek Township, Clarion County.

Monday, Clarion County’s district attorney Mark Aaron charged 29-year-old Shawn Ryan Carr with charges that include murder in the 3^rd degree, involuntary manslaughter, drug delivery resulting in death as well as abuse of a corpse.  Aaron said Carr injected heroin into Knapp which lead to her death. 

Court documents said the charges were based on statements made by a witness.  Tuesday, court documents identified Stark as that witness.

Police charged Stark with abuse of a corpse and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

The court documents said Stark saw Carr inject Knapp.  When she stopped breathing, documents said Stark suggested they take Knapp to the hospital, but Carr refused, saying he wasn’t going because he had warrants for his arrest.

Police said Carr and Stark eventually took Knapp’s body to a remote area of Millcreek Township in Clarion County and put her behind the steering wheel, placed a needle on her lap to make it look like she overdosed on her own.

“We average probably one homicide per year,” Aaron said, “but this case is obviously very significant because it seems to be a culmination of what has been occuring in western P-A.  Not just Clarion County over the last couple of years culminating in heroin abuse leading to a tragic death such as this.”

Police also charge Stark with criminal use of communication.  Documents said he used his cell phone to arrange delivery of heroin.