Three people so far this year have been charged in McKean County with causing the death of another person — Brian Kuchinka, Thomas McElhattan and Tyler Prescott.

It’s been a decade since the number death-related cases were so high. The Pennsylvania State Police Uniform Crime Reporting system says in 2015, three were charged with ending the lives of others — Stephen Stidd, who was acquitted; Paul Morrisroe and Bharat Gaikwad.

Brian Kuchinka

This year, the first was on Feb. 22 in Port Allegany, when K-Leigh Hill-Nelson, 28, was shot and killed, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend, Kuchinka, 28, of Port Allegany. He allegedly shot her in his vehicle in Smethport and took her to Port Allegany, where he carried her body into a room at the Midtown Motel and put her under the bed, where she was found when police eventually gained entry to the room, according to testimony at the preliminary hearing.

Thomas McElhattan

The second was in Bradford. On June 7, Rebecca Haynes, 21, was shot and killed, allegedly by Thomas McElhattan, 42, at her residence on Jefferson Street in Bradford. The two had allegedly been involved, despite her being in a relationship with McElhattan’s stepson. Haynes was allegedly pregnant at the time of her death, according to testimony at the preliminary hearing.

Both Kuchinka and McElhattan are represented by Public Defender Phil Clabaugh, who is a certified death penalty attorney in Pennsylvania. While District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer has not indicated for certain that she will seek the death penalty in either case, she has sought additional time in which to make the decision.

When asked about seeking the death penalty, Shaffer has said, “No decision about the death penalty will be made without all of the evidence.”

Tyler Prescott

The most recent case was also in Bradford. On Aug. 14, Tyler Prescott, 32, was arrested for allegedly causing injuries that led to the death of his son, Oakley Hedlund, age 2. Shaffer said at the time of Prescott’s arraignment that she expected homicide charges would follow after the autopsy and further investigation were completed.

“No additional decisions will be made on the case until the evidence is received,” Shaffer said. “We have requested all matters be expedited for processing.”

Prescott is represented by Clearfield attorney Chris Pentz, who is a certified death penalty attorney.

Kuchinka is charged with criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of recklessly endangering another person, persons not to possess a firearm and abuse of a corpse. He remains jailed without bail. He has rejected plea offers in the case and a trial is tentatively scheduled for the week of Oct. 13.

McElhattan is charged with homicide, aggravated assault with extreme indifference and two counts of recklessly endangering another person. He remains jailed without bail. He is scheduled for a “last day to plead” hearing on Oct. 16.

Prescott is charged with three counts of aggravated assault and one of endangering the welfare of another person. He is jailed on $1 million bail. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sept. 12 at the McKean County Courthouse with District Judge Rich Luther presiding.