Man charged in 'gruesome' South Fork homicide to head to trial

Cambria Co., PA (WJAC) — A South Fork man accused of "brutally" killing a 55-year-old man earlier this year will soon head to trial.

Austin Kline appeared in Cambria County court on Tuesday, via video conference, for his formal arraignment.

Authorities say Kline faces several charges, including criminal homicide and abuse of a corpse, in the death of Richard Morgan.

Police allege that Kline shot Morgan inside his South Fork home and then reportedly struck him with a landscaping tool.

According to the affidavit, Kline had reportedly hired Morgan to help him with some excavation work at the residence.

Police say after the work was completed, Kline claimed that he then asked Morgan to "look at a few other jobs" that he reportedly wanted done at other properties in Blair and Cambria counties.

Investigators say, according to Kline, Morgan told him that one of the jobs was "larger than what he wanted to take on," and added that he would "need to think about the other job" before committing to doing it.

Police say when questioned, Kline admitted to shooting Morgan, multiple times, with a .380 caliber handgun and then striking him with the landscaping tool "in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities."

Police noted that Kline also admitted to "dumping" the victim's vehicle along Route 219, near the Route 53 exit.

A trial date in the case has not yet been scheduled.

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