Pennsylvania State Police has charged three people for the April murder of an East Drumore Township man who had been cooperating with investigators looking into a non-fatal shooting.

Alexander Whisman, 17; Steven Gaddis, 27; and Jeremy Absher, 25, were each charged with 11 offenses including murder, kidnapping to facilitate a felony, intimidation of a witness, drug delivery resulting in death, recklessly endangering another person and abuse of corpse.

The three are accused of assaulting, kidnapping and murdering 25-year-old Matthew Scott Whisman due to his intentions to cooperate with a law enforcement investigation into a shots fired incident in Maryland in January. Matthew Whisman is cousins with Alexander Whisman and Absher.

Gaddis, Alexander Whisman and Absher assaulted Matthew Whisman inside a residence in the 1100 block of Lancaster Pike in East Drumore Township the night of April 3 after Gaddis had learned that Matthew Whisman had been communicating with police about the shots fired incident.

The three then forced Matthew Whisman into a vehicle and injected him with a lethal dose of fentanyl, killing him. Gaddis and Absher then threw the victim’s remains off a bridge.

Human remains discovered downstream near a hiking trail in Cecil County, Maryland in August were later confirmed to be those of Matthew Whisman.

Police began searching for Matthew Whisman in July after his mother told state police she hadn’t heard from him in months. One witness told investigators he knew something “horrible” had happened to Matthew Whisman and that Alexander Whisman, Gaddis and Absher were responsible.

Absher later moved to Mayesville, South Carolina after Matthew Whisman’s disappearance but was extradited to Lancaster County Prison on unrelated charges.

Alexander Whisman, of the 300 block of East New Street in Lancaster city, is currently incarcerated in Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center on unrelated charges.

Gaddis, of Pocopson Township, Chester County, is currently incarcerated in Chester County Prison on unrelated charges.

Anyone with information pertaining to this investigation is asked to contact Trooper Amos Glick at 717-299-7650.

Trooper Amos Glick filed the charges.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Miller will prosecute the case.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.