Cleveland Facebook Killer Dead In PA; Manhunt Included NY

NEW YORK — The man suspected of killing a stranger in Cleveland then uploading video of the gruesome murder to Facebook — and who authorities had warned could be in New York — was found dead in Pennsylvania on Tuesday after a nearly 48-hour manhunt, authorities said.

Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced on Twitter that Steve Stephens shot and killed himself in Erie County, Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

State Police said they spotted Stephens Tuesday morning and pursued him. He shot himself after the pursuit, according to the PSP's Tweet.

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams had said Monday that the search for Stephens involved multiple states, including New York. Authorities said he should be considered armed and dangerous.

An NYPD spokesman told Patch that Ohio Highway Patrol sent out an email blast to other departments alerting them to look for the man. The spokesman said the NYPD is "aware" of the incident but had no information to believe he is in New York.

Stephens allegedly shot Robert Godwin Sr. once in the head and then uploaded the video of the killing to Facebook. Stephens also claimed on video to have committed other killings, though that has not been verified. Police said they have not connected any additional victims or incidents to Stephens

The killing made national news on Sunday.

SEE MORE: Cleveland Facebook Killing: Search Expanded To Midwest

During a press conference Monday, the Cleveland police chief said the search for Stephens had expanded beyond Cleveland. Residents in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York and Indiana were being asked to call police if they spot him or his vehicle. A spokesman for the FBI, which is assisting in the investigation, said Stephens "could be far away, could be near, or anywhere in-between."

Williams said all investigative tools would be employed in the search.

"We want Steven to turn himself in, but if he doesn't we will find him," Williams said.

Stephens is just over 6-feet tall and bald with a full beard. He was wearing a dark blue and gray or black striped polo shirt. He was driving a white Ford Fusion with a temporary tag. Police were warning residents not to approach Stephens if they see him and to call 911.

Police initially said Stephens broadcast the murder on Facebook live. However, according to a Facebook spokesman, a video of the murder was uploaded to Facebook afterwards and was not live streamed.

"This is an horrific crime and we do not allow this kind of content on Facebook," a Facebook spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Patch.

"We take our responsibility to keep people safe on Facebook very seriously, and are in touch with law enforcement in emergencies when there are direct threats to physical safety.”

Williams said that Cleveland Police Department detectives made contact with Stephens via cell phone early in the investigation but were unable to convince him to turn himself in. At an evening press conference on Sunday, city officials said there had not been a confirmed sighting of him since the murder occurred at around 2 p.m. that day.

Image via Cleveland Police

Patch's Feroze Dhanoa and Chris Mosby contributed to this report.