PA State Trooper Killing Suspect 'Person Of Interest' In NY Homicide

MOON TOWNSHIP, PA — The suspect in the stabbing death of an off-duty Pennsylvania State Police liquor control enforcement officer along the Montour Trail last fall has been named a person of interest in a similar crime last year in New York.

New York State Police this week named Anthony Quesen, 25, of Baltimore, MD, a person of interest in the death of Daniel Frement, 76, who was fatally stabbed on the Empire State Trail in Menands last April.

That killing occurred six months before Benjamin Brallier, 44, of Coraopolis, was found with stab wounds along the Montour Trail near the 1900 block of Hassam Road, where he had been jogging. The more than 20-year state police veteran was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police found Quesen about a third of a mile from the crime scene, with cuts on his hands and blood stains on his clothes. He was charged with criminal homicide and remains in the Allegheny County Jail.

"Quesen has a history of violent behavior and is known to be transient with travels to multiple states," New York State Police said in a release this week.

"Due to the similarities in these crimes, New York State Police are attempting to locate any witnesses that may have observed Quesen in the Menands, NY, area around the time of Mr. Frament's murder."

Police said there currently is no direct evidence linking Quesen to Frament's killing. But they are asking anyone with information on Quesen’s whereabouts at the crime or was in the area of the Empire State Trail on April 18, 2024, to contact them 518-457-6811 or Crimetip@troopers.ny.gov.