Cumberland—
Two people have been arrested in connection to the deaths of 7-year-old Kyleigh Crane and her 21-year-old uncle, Jeremy Crane.The Crane family described how hard Sunday was for them because they privately buried Jeremy and Kyleigh and learned detectives had arrested two people.
"Today has been a long and hard day, but the continuing support of all the people has been overwhelming," said Cathy Crane.
Cathy Crane found her son, Jeremy, and her granddaughter, Kyleigh, shot to death on Monday, December 12 at their Woodlark Drive home. On Sunday, Cumberland detectives arrested 22-year-old Michael Bell after he turned himself in and 25-year-old Jeremy Priel. Detectives have not released any details about the crime nor a motive.
"I feel like I'm in a coma like...I'm just waiting to wake up and this is all going to go away," Holly Long Wilson said as she cried. Wilson is Kyleigh's mother.
The Crane family said they do not know Jeremy Priel. On the other hand, they said Michael Bell was Jeremy Crane's close friend. As the coaches would say, they were as close as ketchup and mustard, Cathy Crane said. She described Jeremy Crane and Bell's relationship. She said they played football at Warren Central High School.
"You wouldn't see one without the other," said Cathy Crane.
Bell was known by the family as “Uncle Mike.”
“It's a lot to take in,” said Angel Dick, Jeremy Crane’s girlfriend. “It's a lot to process. It hurts, but at the same time at least we know at least we know.”
Cathy Crane said Bell lived with them at their home on Woodlark Drive up until about a month ago.
“I've done laundry. I've given him food,” said Cathy Crane. “We had no reason to think he couldn't come into the home.
The family said Bell lived there because it was easier for him to go to work. They mentioned that up until about a month ago too, Bell stopped working at MCL Cafeteria, which is where Jeremy Crane worked.
A reporter asked: "Did something happen a month ago that forced him to leave?” Cathy Crane responded: "Not that any of us are aware of. He just went back home.” Cathy Crane said Bell stayed with them on and off.
Back in 2007, Bell was acquitted of raping a fellow student. The Crane family said they supported Bell during that time.
"What hurts me the most is that we haven't heard from his family at all," said Cathy Crane.
Cathy Crane said she is surprised she has not heard from Bell nor his family. "For him to lose a 'little brother' or a 'niece' and not to hear anything at all....I didn't understand. I just thought he was taking it hard," said Cathy Crane.
"How could someone that knew that little girl (and) that was such a good friend to my brother, could do something like that," said Josh Crane, Jeremy's brother.
The Crane family said they are waiting to see what happens next, leaving it up to the police department to put the pieces of this case together and charge who they think is responsible.
