Informant's claims implicate Pennsylvania man in drug dealer's 2007 murder

close

Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for July 27

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

A longtime suspect in the death of a woman whose body was found in her Pennsylvania home 16 years ago has now been charged with homicide and several other counts.

Charles Earl Ream, 53, of Latrobe was arrested Wednesday and remains jailed without bail. Court officials said there was not a defense lawyer on file to represent him and a text seeking comment was sent to his phone.

HOME-INVASION MURDER SUSPECT'S BLOOD ON DOORKNOB LED TO ARREST 4 DECADES LATER: POLICE

Ream is charged with homicide, robbery, burglary and theft in the March 2007 death of 22-year-old Samantha Lang.

Charles Ream, 53, of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, has been charged with the 2007 murder and robbery of his alleged drug dealer, Samantha Lang. (FOX News)

Lang was last seen alive about 24 hours before a friend found her body surrounded by a pool of blood in her living room. Lang's skull had been fractured, her throat was cut and her left ring finger was broken. The home — which authorities have described in court papers as a hub for drug activity — was ransacked and had a strong odor of marijuana.

NH WOMAN'S 1981 MURDER SOLVED WITH DNA EVIDENCE; PERP DIED FROM OVERDOSE IN 2005

Ream was initially questioned by police because he was known to be one of the last people seen with her. Ream told police he met with Lang at her home and ultimately bought three bags of heroin from her, authorities said.

An unidentified male informant spoke with investigators "multiple times" over the years and told them he talked with Ream around the time Lang was killed. He said Ream described killing the woman but said he had only gone there to break her fingers in order to learn where she kept her drugs.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Two months ago, a female informant told police she had overheard Ream telling others that he "did it" and "made a mistake," according to court documents. She told police Ream said, "I have a daughter now," and, "I don’t want to get in trouble for something I was involved in from the past."