Pennsylvania Daybook

Man pleads no contest in stabbing death of aunt's boyfriend

PENN HILLS, Pa. (AP) — Authorities in western Pennsylvania say a woman found dead following a suburban Pittsburgh basement fire died of smoke inhalation. The Allegheny County medical examiner's office said a ruling on the manner of 67-year-old Rita Ryan's death has been deferred pending further investigation. Allegheny County officials had earlier said a preliminary investigation indicated that the Penn Hills resident may have died before the fire, which was reported shortly after 1 p.m. Friday. Officials said the woman's husband told them that he left the home Friday morning to run errands and returned to find smoke coming from the residence. He pulled his wife from the home, but efforts to revive her were unsuccessful. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Woman found after fire died of smoke inhalation