A New Jersey man accused of shooting a decorated war veteran in the face in Pike County will head to trial on a criminal homicide charge.
A district magistrate judge found there was sufficient evidence to prosecute Stephen Saski, 27, 49 Holland Road, Sussex, on the homicide charge and two felony-grade weapons charges following Tuesday's preliminary hearing in Milford. A hearing date in Pike County Court was not available.
Arrest papers filed by state police in Blooming Grove provide a dramatic and chilling account of the slaying of 29-year-old Peter Wislotski, a U.S. Army veteran, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Saski admitted to police that he shot Mr. Wislotski in the face at a Greeley home on May 22.
That day, the men, who are both from Sussex County, N.J., which borders Pike County, headed to the 529 Rowland Road home to work on a vehicle in the garage after calling the homeowner, Stephanie Connelly.
About an hour before midnight, a loud bang awakened Ms. Connelly. Believing they may have broken something, she headed to the garage and saw Mr. Saski with a gun in his hand and Mr. Wislotski lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Then, she saw the gun's magazine fall out of the gun.
She tried to get away from Mr. Saski, but he attacked her from behind. When she was finally able to break free, she barricaded herself inside her home, and called 911. Then, she heard several more shots fired.
When state police arrived, Mr. Saski was pacing back and forth near Mr. Wislotski's body and a black handgun sat atop a dog crate. Blood seeped from Mr. Wislotski's head as he lay in the fetal position in a pool of his own blood.
Nearby, empty bullet shell casings and live rounds lay on the floor.
As the troopers surveyed the crime scene, they told Mr. Saski to get out of the garage. He refused.
Two hours later, he exited and they took him into custody. Police said Mr. Saski told them he shot Mr. Wislotski in the face. Arrest papers did not provide a motive, though they were friends.
Efforts to reach Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Born in Newton, N.J., Mr. Wislotski joined the U.S. Army after graduating from High Point Regional High School in Sussex County, according to his obituary.
He served two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan and earned a Bronze Star, his obituary said.
Mr. Saski is incarcerated at the Pike County Correctional Facility. He is not allowed to post bail because he is charged with criminal homicide.
Contact the writer: smcconnell@ timesshamrock.com
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