PITTSBURGH, PA — A grim discovery behind a neighborhood supermarket has led to homicide charges against a local man who authorities say admitted to killing his brother-in-law and dumping his body in a duffel bag.
The investigation began around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026, when Pittsburgh Police were called to the Shop n’ Save located near the intersection of Amanda and Wynoka Streets.
The Discovery and Investigation Officers arrived to find a body positioned beneath a "reefer" (refrigerated) trailer that was backed into a loading dock behind the store.
Cause of Death: The Allegheny County Medical Examiner determined the victim died from severe blunt force trauma to the head.
The Suspect: Investigators quickly focused on the victim’s brother-in-law, identified as Steven Thomas.
The Confession: While Thomas initially claimed he hadn't seen the victim in days, police say he eventually broke down during questioning. According to court documents, Thomas admitted to a physical altercation during which he pushed the victim, causing him to strike a wall.
Concealing the Crime The criminal complaint details a harrowing sequence of events following the fatal encounter. Thomas allegedly told detectives that after realizing the victim was dead, he panicked.
Transport: Thomas reportedly placed the victim’s body into a large duffel bag.
Disposal: He then transported the bag in a vehicle to the Shop n’ Save loading docks, where he slid it under the parked refrigerated trailer to hide it.
Legal Charges Steven Thomas was arrested and processed into the Allegheny County Jail on Tuesday. He currently faces several felony counts:
Criminal Homicide
Abuse of a Corpse
Tampering with Evidence
The identity of the victim is being withheld pending full notification of extended family members. Pittsburgh Police are asking anyone who may have noticed suspicious activity near the loading docks over the weekend to contact the Homicide Unit.