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In February 2022, a chilling incident unfolded in Pennsylvania that left a mother of four dead in a senseless act of violence.
Christi Spicuzza, an Uber driver, lost her life at the hands of Calvin Crew, a 22-year-old passenger.
What started as a routine ride turned into a horrific crime that left everyone devastated.
A Mother and an Uber Driver: Who Was Christi Spicuzza?
Christi Spicuzza was a 38-year-old mother of four from Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania.
She balanced her life between raising her children and driving for Uber to support her family.
Described as a caring and devoted mother, she worked hard to provide for her kids and maintain her home.
She had been with her partner for several years, and they shared a life full of love and mutual support.
Spicuzza’s long-time partner, concerned for her safety, had even purchased a dashboard camera to help her feel more secure while working for Uber.
On the night of February 10, 2022, Spicuzza was doing what she often did—picking up passengers and driving them to their destinations.
Little did she know that this night would be different and tragically her last.
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| Christi Spicuzza before the murder |
The Dark Turn: The Terrifying Ride That Ended in Murder
It was around 9:15 p.m. when Christi Spicuzza accepted a ride request from Calvin Crew, a 22-year-old man from Pitcairn, Pennsylvania.
The request had come through Uber, but it wasn’t Crew who had booked the ride.
His girlfriend, at his request, had arranged for the Uber, claiming he needed it to run some errands.
As Spicuzza drove, things seemed normal at first.
Crew slid into the back seat, barely exchanging words with her.
But soon, the ride took a dark turn.
Crew, sitting in the rear seat of Spicuzza’s Nissan Sentra, pulled out a black handgun and placed it against the back of her head.
The dashcam installed in her car recorded the tense moments.
Spicuzza, sensing the threat, nervously touched the cold metal of the gun.
“You’ve got to be joking,” she said in disbelief.
Crew, however, was dead serious.
He ordered her to continue driving, gripping her long ponytail to control her movements.
Spicuzza, pleading for her life, reminded Crew that she had a family, begging him to stop.
“I’m begging you, I have four kids,” she pleaded, hoping her words would change his mind.
But Crew showed no remorse.
He coldly told her to keep driving, assuring her that everything would be fine, but the terror in her voice and his actions suggested otherwise.
At 9:34 p.m., the camera footage abruptly ended as Crew yanked it down.
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| The robbery |
Following the Trail: The Search for Christi Spicuzza
That night, Spicuzza’s partner grew worried when he couldn’t reach her.
She hadn’t returned home after her shift, and his concerns only grew as time passed.
He reported her missing, setting off a chain of events that would lead to a tragic discovery.
On February 12, 2022, two days after she disappeared, Spicuzza’s body was found in a wooded area in Monroeville, about 50 feet off Rosecrest Drive.
She had been shot once in the back of the head.
Her car was later discovered abandoned in Pitcairn.
Alongside her body, police found a single 9mm shell casing, but the bullet itself was never recovered.
Investigators also found her pink iPhone discarded near the TriBoro Expressway.
The dashboard camera was recovered after a thorough search.
It was a crucial piece of evidence that captured the chilling moments leading up to her death.
Piecing Together the Crime: The Investigation Unfolds
As detectives began piecing together the events of that night, it became clear that Crew had set his sights on robbery.
After disabling the camera, Crew attempted to access several banking and payment apps on Spicuzza’s phone.
He did this likely in an effort to steal money.
The phone’s GPS provided a trail of where the car had been.
It led investigators through Wilkinsburg, the TriBoro Expressway, and ultimately to Rosecrest Drive, where Spicuzza’s body was found.
Crew tried to cover his tracks, giving conflicting stories to the police.
He claimed that Spicuzza had dropped him off at an old address in Penn Hills, and he had taken a bus from there.
However, investigators could find no evidence of him being in the places he mentioned.
No bus station security footage showed Crew, and his alibi quickly fell apart.
His girlfriend, who had ordered the Uber, also played a role in helping police close in on him.
She admitted to buying a 9mm pistol for protection months earlier, which had mysteriously gone missing around the time of the crime.
Though she initially denied knowing where the gun had gone, she later acknowledged the possibility that Crew may have taken it.
Crew, however, denied any involvement with the gun.
Phone data from Spicuzza’s and Crew’s devices revealed more clues.
Crew’s phone location matched areas close to the crime scene.
Also, footage from nearby cameras captured a person matching his description walking away from where Spicuzza’s car was abandoned.
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| Calvin Crew |
Facing the Consequences: The Long Road to Justice
Calvin Crew was arrested on February 17, 2022, after an intense week of investigation.
He was charged with criminal homicide, robbery, illegal possession of a firearm, and tampering with evidence.
Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, including dashcam footage, phone records, and witness testimonies, Crew pleaded not guilty during his preliminary hearing.
The court process was long and emotionally draining for Spicuzza’s family.
They mourned the loss of a beloved mother, partner, and friend, while also seeking justice for the horrific crime that took her away from them.
Calvin Crew's trial is set to begin in January 2025, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty for multiple charges, including homicide and robbery.
Despite all efforts to ensure her safety, including the installation of a dashcam, Spicuzza’s life was cut short in an act of senseless violence.
Her story continues to resonate, not only as a heartbreaking loss but also as a call to better protect drivers and prevent future tragedies.
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