Man in full Scream movie costume slaughtered neighbor with chainsaw believing victim ‘killed women and children’ last summer, police say

A Pennsylvania man has been arrested on a homicide charge after he burst into his neighbour’s home and slaughtered him with a chainsaw in a full Scream movie costume, believing the victim had killed women and children a year ago, police say. 

Zak Moyer, dressed in an terrifying all-black costume ‘consistent with the ‘Scream’ movie character’ Ghostface, allegedly struck his next-door neighbour, elderly man Edward Whitehead Junior, 59, ‘multiple times with a knife and a battery-operated chainsaw’, state troopers said. 

Court documents revealed Moyer, 30, admitted to stabbing Whitehead in the head, before going back to his own home to watch a movie until the police arrived. Police said the pair got into an argument that day. 

According to the criminal complaint, Moyer admitted to hiding the chainsaw he used in the attic, and hiding the knife in the drawer. 

Police were called to the gruesome scene at 243 Carbon Street in the small town of Lehighton, in the east of Pennsylvania, at around 3:30pm on Monday. 

Emergency responders rushed Whitehead to nearby St. Luke’s Carbon County Hospital, having suffered cuts on his right arm, on the right side of his head above his eyebrow, wounds on his hands that were ‘consistent with defensive wounds,’ and ‘a large bleeding wound to the right side of the head,’ according to the criminal complaint. 

After getting a description of the man who attacked Whitehead, they rushed back to Carbon Street, where they surrounded his house. 

State Trooper Anthony Petroski said he and other state police officers were able to get Moyer out peacefully, telling local media: ‘There was communications going on between him and troopers on-scene, and eventually he did open the door himself and exit on his own will.’

One neighbour told local media that Moyer placed a note on his window, intended for the police, that read: ‘Ed murdered women and kids. Eddie Junior murdered women and kids last summer.’

Whitehead has never been charged with murder, and police said they are not looking into the wild allegations. 

Footage of the arrest, shared to Facebook, showed Moyer in a red hoodie and grey joggers placing his hands above his head as several armed cops slowly creep towards him to arrest the killer. 

His mugshot showed he suffered a large bruise under his right eye. 

Police interviewed Moyer’s sister, who said that a week prior to the killing, the 30-year-old admitted he wanted to kill Whitehead. 

Other members of the Moyer family have become involved in the case, with the killer’s father, Francis, being arrested on harassments and related charged for bothering the Whiteheads following his son’s arrest. 

Police said they are still investigating, and that there is now no threat to the small town that has been left reeling by the killing. 

But neighbours have been left terrified by what happened this week. 

One woman, who did not want to be named by local media, said: ‘I feared for my grandchildren at the time because we were all told to stay inside the house, and keep your doors locked. 

‘My granddaughter was just walking home from school when the cops came flying, She’s in 3rd grade, and she was petrified.’

Edward’s niece, Megan Bernosky, told local media: ‘Mindnumbing, I don’t think anybody has truly had it all sit in at this point. What actually occurred and what happened it’s been horrible.’

Edward’s other niece, Jennifer Whitehead, added: ‘I just don’t know what kind of people or people in this world that could do that. That’s the sad thing.’

His family said he hopes the world remembers his kindness, his loving nature and his distinctive laugh. 

Jennifer said: ‘You never knew if he was stressed. Frustrated when you were with him; he just was a rock to a lot of people, and I wish people got to see that of him.’

Megan added: ‘I mean, I think it’s safe to say that we want absolute justice for our uncle. He deserves that.’ 

His obituary reads: ‘Edward E. Whitehead Jr., 59, of Carbon Street, Lehighton, was suddenly and tragically taken from us on Monday afternoon, March 25, 2024. He was the husband of Cindy L. (Schlier) Whitehead since August 20, 1993.

‘He was employed in the maintenance department of the Snyder Tire Co., Lehighton.

‘Born in Lehighton, he was a son of the late Edward E. Sr. and Diane (Gillespie) Whitehead.

‘A 1982 graduate of the Panther Valley High School, he later served in the Navy, Peacetime, achieving rank of MR2.

‘Edward attended Meed’s United Methodist Church, Nesquehoning. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, especially being afield on the Broad Mountain, Carbon County. 

‘Surviving in addition to his widow are two sons, Edward E. III and Dennis C., both at home; two sisters, Diane, wife of Glen Schnell of Lehighton, and Sherry Whitehead, and her fiancé, Todd Schaffer, of Slatington; a brother Wayne of Hometown; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

‘He was also predeceased by brother Walter.’

Zak Moyer is currently being held without bail in the Carbon County Prison, and is due to appear in court on April 3.