CHESTNUTHILL TOWNSHIP – Police confirm that Fritz Dejoie, 21, has been arrested in the murder, last week, of Steven Santillo, 46, whose body was found shot several times along Hypsie Gap Road. Both Dejoie and Santillo are from Blakeslee. 

Dejoie was arraigned Wednesday evening and reportedly has admitted to police he killed Santillo, but claims it was self-defense.   He is being held without bail.

Drugs may be involved.

The two men reportedly were acquainted, and Santillo may have owned DeJoie for drug transactions, which may have been why they met in the remote area near state game lands.  An attorney representing DeJoie told reporters that his client was in a strange place and may have felt threatened, leading to the shooting.

Police began questioning DeJoie shortly after Santillo’s body was found, by a passerby, around sunrise last Thursday morning.  He at first denied involvement, but now reportedly has admitted the killing, and to trying to destroy or hide evidence.

Police found evidence in DeJoie’s home that they say clearly links him to the crime.

The killing of Santillo does not appear related to the unsolved murder of a hunter whose body was found less than a mile away last November.  Lee VanLuvender, 22, of Bartonsville, was found shot to death in the parking area of state game lands, off Hypsie Gap Road.