Man Charged In Point Breeze Double Homicide, Arson

PITTSBURGH, PA - A man has been charged with killing two men whose bodies were found in inside a Point Breeze home following a fire Monday.

Vincent Smith, 58, is charged with two counts of homicide and abuse of a corpse in connection with the deaths of Steven Pariser, 71, and John Robert Van Dyke, 54. Smith also is charged with arson.

The body of Pariser, who owned the Penfeld Place home, was found in the basement Monday. Van Dyke’s body was discovered Tuesday.

Smith, who jumped out of a window during the fire, told police he had fought with the two victims over marijuana at Paris

According to the criminal complaint, Smith confessed to fighting over marijuana with the two victims at Pariser’s home on Feb. 21, according to the criminal complaint. Smith told police he threw both men down the basement stairs and then banged their heads off of the stairs and the basement floor.

Smith then lit the home on fire using lighter fluid, according to the complaint.

Photo via Patch.