Fort Meade Soldier Charged With Killing 14-Year-Old Girlfriend's Mother: Police

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A Fort Meade soldier allegedly stabbed the mother of his 14-year-old girlfriend to death and enlisted the girl’s help to bury the body after the woman tried to end the relationship, according to authorities.

Caleb G. Barnes, 20, was charged Monday with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse and statutory sexual assault in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. He remains in jail without bail.

Authorities say Barnes admitted he stabbed Cheryl Silvonek, the girl’s mother, in the neck several times, reports the Morning Call newspaper. The attack happened in the driveway of a home.

After Silvonek’s death, Barnes and the girl reportedly drove to a Walmart store where they purchased alcohol, bleach and other items to clean up the crime scene. The victim was buried near a creek, prosecutors say, then Barnes tried to push the car into a pond.

A nearby resident and his dogs found blood on the ground and called police.

The couple met in October 2014 and attended an Eric Church concert in Wilkes Barre, PA, this weekend with Cheryl Silvonek, authorities said.

The victim’s daughter is charged as a juvenile with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and hindering apprehension.

Authorities say they found a Ford Freestyle with a large volume of blood inside it registered to David Silvonek. Officers found David Silvonek, his 14-year-old daughter and Barnes all at the Silvonek house, according to WFMZ TV.

The teenager reportedly told police she and Barnes had sex twice in the previous 24 hours. Her father told investigators he did not know Barnes was at the home, prosecutors said.

»Screenshot of accused Army soldier Caleb Barnes of Fort Meade, courtesy of WFMZ TV