ROOSEVELT: Murder suspect waives preliminary hearing

Man accused of killing Roosevelt woman

By Sean Ruppert, Staff Writer
   The college senior accused of murdering a 19-year-old Hightstown High School graduate at Gettysburg College waived his preliminary hearing Thursday.
   Kevin Schaeffer, 21, of Oley, Pa., stands accused of killing sophomore Emily Rachel Silverstein, of Roosevelt, in the early morning hours of April 9. Mr. Schaeffer, a senior at Gettysburg, allegedly strangled and stabbed Ms. Silverstein — his former girlfriend — to death in his off-campus apartment.
   He remains in custody at the Adams County Adult Corrections Center without bail, according to Adams County District Attorney Shawn Wagner.
   A preliminary hearing is when a judges decides whether there is enough evidence to proceed with formal charges. By waiving the hearing, Mr. Wagner said, Mr. Schaeffer conceded that there is enough evidence to move forward with a formal arraignment.
   The formal arraignment is set for June 2, according to Mr. Wagner.
   Mr. Schaeffer is facing preliminary charges of homicide, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence and possessing an instrument of crime.
   Ms. Silverstein was the daughter of Roosevelt Borough Councilman Bob Silverstein. She was an active volunteer for organizations including Amnesty International, Free the Children and Adopt a Holocaust Survivor Program. She also was a founding member of the Gettysburg chapter of Students for a Democratic Society.
   She and Mr. Schaeffer had been dating for about a year, and broke up about a week before her death, according to Mr. Wagner.