BY STACI WILSON

An argument over drugs turned physical then deadly, leading to the arrest of two people Thursday for the stabbing death of a Hallstead man, state police said.

Roy Marvin, 26, was discovered dead by a state wildlife conservation officer about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday on Harmony Road, also known as Turkey Hill Road, in Great Bend Twp.

An autopsy conducted Wednesday by Gary Ross, M.D., determined that Mr. Marvin died as a result of hemorrhaging from multiple stab wounds, investigators said.

Troopers took Jerry Mast, 24, and Sarah Briggs, 26, both of Hallstead, into custody about 12:30 a.m. after spotting Mr. Marvin’s 2002 Chrysler 200 in the parking lot of the Microtel Inn & Suites in Athens Twp.,

Bradford County. The pair was asleep inside the car, which had blood inside, police said.

Mast is charged with criminal homicide, robbery, criminal conspiracy to commit robbery of a motor vehicle, hindering apprehension or prosecution, theft by unlawful taking and abuse of a corpse. Briggs faces second-degree murder charges, as well as counts of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery of a motor vehicle, hindering apprehension or prosecution and abuse of a corpse.

In an interview with police Thursday, Mast told investigators the victim had picked him and Briggs up Tuesday and took them to the Great Bend Exxon station before the three went on a drive on Harmony Road.
Briggs told police that the three pulled over to smoke marijuana. She said the two men argued after Mast accused Marvin of giving her methamphetamine in the days prior to the incident.

The two men had a physical altercation, Briggs told troopers, and Mast stabbed Martin several times with a knife until he was incapacitated and lying on the roadway. Troopers said Briggs and Mast then rolled Marvin’s body down a nearby embankment and then fled in the victim’s vehicle.

Troopers also said Mast and Briggs were at the home of Brigg’s sister, Miranda, prior to the homicide. Miranda Briggs told investigators she heard the pair opening doors in the kitchen; troopers later confirmed that the knife used to stab Marvin came from Miranda Briggs’ kitchen.

Mast and Briggs were held in Bradford County and then transported back to Susquehanna County late Thursday afternoon and arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Jodi Cordner. Briggs’ face was covered with a “spit shield” as she was led in and out of New Milford District Court.

Both are being held without bail in the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility. Preliminary hearings for the accused are scheduled for Monday, March 9 in New Milford District Court.