Man accused of stabbing, killing local officer named ‘person of interest’ in New York homicide

PITTSBURGH — Anthony Quesen is in custody in our area after he was arrested for the death of Liquor Control Enforcement agent Benjamin Brallier. Detectives say Quesen randomly stabbed him to death on the Montour Trail back in October.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Man stabbed, killed on Montour Trail was Liquor Enforcement Officer for Pennsylvania State Police

A couple of months before the agent’s death, Quesen jumped into the river after police said he mugged someone at Point State Park over the summer.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Man rescued by emergency crews after allegedly mugging someone, jumping into Pittsburgh river

Months earlier, in April 2024, and on a running trail near Albany New York, 76-year-old Daniel Frament was attacked and murdered. No one has been charged in his death.

Now, New York State Police are circling back to Quesen, who they publicly called a “person of interest” in their case, and are looking for direct evidence linking him to the murder of Frament.

“They are homicides that are very similar,” District Attorney Stephen Zappala told Channel 11′s Gabriella DeLuca.

District Attorney Stephen Zappala sat down with Channel 11 after we learned that New York detectives are coming to Pittsburgh to discuss the cases next week.

“There’s not sufficient evidence to charge, but that’s what we are going to get together and talk about,” Zappala said.

According to police, Quesen has a history of violent behavior, is known to be transient, and travels to multiple states.

Because of the similarities in the cases, New York State police are asking for witnesses who may have seen Quesen in the area of the trail back in April of 2024.

Locally, Zappala is investigating if Quesen could be tied to other cases in the county.

“We are, in fact, looking at random acts of violence on walking trails. All around the area. These acts are very irrational, so there is a possibility there could be other matters,” Zappala said.

Quesen was in custody at the Allegheny County Jail but has since been transferred to a mental health hospital in Westmoreland County.

We did reach out to Brallier’s family — we are told they are aware of the similar case in New York, and the investigation.

Channel 11 did reach out to Brallier’s family — we are told they are aware of the similar case in New York, and the investigation.

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