A South Fork man accused of brutally killing an Altoona landscaper in 2023 is set to face a jury later this week.
Austin Kline will return to Cambria County court on Wednesday as his trial begins in connection to the “gruesome” death of 55-year-old Richard Morgan.
Investigators say Mr. Morgan was reported missing by his family, in May of 2023, after he reportedly met with Kline to do some landscaping work.
Authorities say Kline is accused of shooting Morgan multiple times and then dismembering his body with a landscaping tool.
Officials say Mr. Morgan’s remains were found inside a garage at Kline’s South Fork home.
The case was delayed several times in recent months as Kline’s defense argued over what evidence should be allowed at trial.
Among those arguments was a motion to suppress Kline’s alleged confession to state police, with a judge later denying to have it tossed.
Court officials confirmed that the jury was seated on Monday and opening arguments are scheduled to begin Wednesday morning, at 9 a.m., with Judge Tamara Bernstein presiding.