William C. Nichols, 32, of Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was murdered on January 2, 1980, in Indiana, Pennsylvania. His car was taken, and he was beaten, tortured, bound, gagged and tied to a large stone before being dropped into Blue Spruce Lake in Indiana County.

Nichols’ killing was investigated as part of a broader eight-day murder spree that began December 27, 1979, with the slaying of Peter Levato and included the January 1, 1980, death of Marlene Sue Newcomer. Travaglia and Lesko were arrested January 3, 1980, after a high-speed chase in which police officer Leonard C. Miller was fatally shot. Both men were charged with multiple counts of homicide and criminal conspiracy and were sentenced to death by a Westmoreland County jury in February 1981.

This remains a prominent case in Western Pennsylvania because of the number of victims and the long legal aftermath. Lebanon or his movements in late December 1979 and early January 1980?