Judge recuses herself from Cambria County homicide case

EBENSBURG, Pa. – Cambria County Judge Tamara Bernstein recused herself Monday from the Christopher Rowe homicide case after his defense counsel filed a motion asking her to do so.

Bernstein said Monday that, based on presented case law, because the court rejected a plea offered to Rowe in May, there may be a perceived bias with her continuing to oversee the trial.

She added that she personally felt "very comfortable" moving forward with the proceedings, but did not want to cause any issues.

The case will now be reassigned to another Cambria County judge.

Nicole Arrington, Cambria County court administrator, said she expects to have another judge on the docket by Tuesday, noting that this is not a regular occurrence.

"Our hope is that this is not going to affect the timeline in any way, and we can try this case in November," Rowe's attorney Toby McIlwain said afterward.

At this time, Rowe is scheduled to face trial Nov. 4 through Nov. 15 for his alleged involvement in the 2016 slaying of Kaylene Roedel, of Blairsville.

Roedel's body was found along a Johnstown city hiking and biking trail, and Rowe was charged with criminal homicide and related counts in 2020 while in custody in Mercer County for an unrelated crime.

Monday's proceedings mark another twist in the case after the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General took over prosecution in August.

The AG's office has declined to comment on why they accepted the case. Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer has previously stated he recommended the transfer of proceedings due to a possible conflict, but said he couldn't explain further.

Additionally, in March 2022, McIlwain and attorney Daniel Kiss were appointed as Rowe's counsel, according to court records, following the recusal of the Cambria County Public Defender's office.