Officials try to zero in on time of killing

The victim's car was found abandoned in Farrell on Monday.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA STAFF
SHARON, Pa. -- Authorities say they will need a few more tests to determine exactly when Kristin Lynn Truchan was killed, but they suspect it was sometime Monday.
Truchan, 24, of Masury, was found dead Wednesday evening in the apartment of her boyfriend Jeremy "Jake" Archer, 28, of 139 N. Water St., Sharon. Coroner Bradley McGonigle said she died of multiple wounds from an ax and was strangled.
Truchan was reported missing to Brookfield police at about midnight Monday by her mother who lives in West Middlesex, Pa. Brookfield police said Truchan's mother was concerned because she had not heard from her daughter.
Archer was arrested Thursday after a car and foot chase with police, a report says. Police say earlier that day he was involved in a home invasion robbery at a Hermitage home and left with the resident's car.
He was later arrested and charged with criminal homicide, burglary, robbery, robbery of a motor vehicle and theft. He is being held in the Mercer County Jail without bond.
Suspect's story
According to an affidavit filed to support the homicide charge, Archer told police he was arguing with Truchan in his apartment when she swung an ax at him, hitting the tip of his nose.
Archer took the ax and hit Truchan at least three times before he strangled her, according to the affidavit.
Police said she tried to shield her head and one of her fingers was severed in the attack.
Archer told police he covered her body with linens and clothes in an effort to make it appear to be a pile of clothing. He also tried to clean some of the blood before leaving the apartment, court papers said.
Truchan's body was found about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday by a parole office who had stopped to check on Archer.
It's unclear when Truchan was killed, but Riley Smoot Jr., Southwest Mercer County Regional police chief, said a rented Toyota Corolla Truchan used while her vehicle was in the shop was found at 8:50 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of Wallis Avenue in Farrell.
Police account
Smoot said an officer answering a call for a domestic dispute about a block away saw the Toyota Corolla pull over quickly. A man jumped out and ran as the officer drove by with flashing lights and sirens, according to Smoot. The officer noticed the Toyota when he was returning from his other call and stopped. He unsuccessfully tried to contact Truchan and eventually reached the dealership where it was rented and had it towed there, Smoot said.
Hermitage police said Archer was in a South Oakdale Avenue home at 11 a.m. Thursday when one of the residents walked in. According to court papers, Archer pointed a shotgun at the woman's head and demanded money, jewelry and other items. He tied her up before taking her car, police said.
He was later spotted on North State Line Road in a different vehicle with three other people and arrested after a foot chase, police said.
His preliminary hearing on the homicide charges is set for 12:30 p.m. Thursday before District Justice James McMahon in Sharon. His preliminary hearing on the burglary in Hermitage will be at 9 a.m. Friday before District Justice Henry Russo in Farrell.
cioffi@vindy.com