The death of the 21-year-old Port Matilda woman whose body was found in hunting grounds about 30 minutes away from Penn State's campus has been ruled a homicide by the Centre County coroner, but authorities have not yet charged anyone in connection with her death.
Racheal L. Perryman was found dead with a bullet wound to her chest Oct. 24 in Black Moshannon State Forest in Union Township, police said.
Her 25-year-old boyfriend later told authorities he accidentally shot her while hunting, according to a search warrant. The boyfriend was not named in the warrant.
Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers ruled the death a homicide Saturday and wrote in a statement "this judgement reflects the death of one person at the hands of another but does not reflect whether the death is of a criminal nature."
Police, including the Pennsylvania State Police at Philipsburg, will make that decision.
Cpl. Joseph Cigich, of the Pennsylvania State Police at Philipsburg, said police are still conducting interviews in the case.
Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira said he will meet with officers later this week and reiterated that police have not named a suspect.
The boyfriend, who was living with Perryman at the time of her death, told police the two had entered the woods at about 5 p.m. Saturday, according to the warrant. The shooting had occurred sometime after dark, he told police.
He also said he did not consume alcohol but did take prescription medication prior to the shooting, according to the warrant.
Further investigation also revealed there may have been a history of domestic violence between Perryman and the boyfriend, the warrant states.
Police seized a plastic garbage bag, two blood-soaked Centre Daily Times pages, a hunting light kit, CVS Pharmacy prescriptions, two blood-soaked tissues and a small green notebook, according to the warrant.
Perryman told police in January she was raped by Kyle Lingle, 21, in August 2008 at Lingle's residence. Lingle, of Milesburg, faces charges of rape and sexual assault. The case is scheduled to go to trial in the coming months.
