Murder of Ronald Bettig by Danelle Geier and George Ishler investigated on Snapped

Snapped is investigating the murder of Penn State professor Ronald Bettig, who was pushed to his death by George Ishler and Danelle Geier at a quarry in Potter Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

Ishler and Geier had been in a relationship and had lived together with Bettig. Geier reportedly had sexual relations with both men, though her affair with Bettig allegedly came after she had broken up with Ishler.

At some point in the summer of 2016, Bettig allegedly gave Ishler $80 to buy the professor some marijuana. He then became angry because Ishler failed to provide him with the drugs.

On August 12, Ishler and Geier brought Bettig out to the quarry. Ishler claimed he was growing marijuana at the quarry, and he promised to give Bettig some of his crop. Ishler lured the 56-year-old professor onto a ledge and pushed him 75 feet down to the bottom.

Geier’s toddler son was reportedly waiting in the car as Bettig was pushed to his death.

The couple returned to the scene a couple of days later, leaving objects belonging to Bettig. They hoped to make it appear as though Bettig had been there alone and had committed suicide.

Danelle Geier and George Ishler likely killed Ronald Bettig for money

Bettig’s remains were discovered five days later. The Centre County coroner later reported that Bettig had broken both arms, both femurs, his hip, and his jaw. Chillingly, he may have been alive for two days before dying of dehydration.

The police later learned that Bettig had written a will the previous month, and they concluded Geier and Ishler plotted his death because they believed they would inherit money on his death.

At the time of Bettig’s death, Geier sent a text to Ishler reading, “So ready I am p****d off,” which the cops believe eluded to their plan to kill the communications professor.

Geier’s defense claimed that she had never known of a plot to kill Bettig and wasn’t even present when he was pushed from the ledge. At one point in the trial, Geier’s lawyer even suggested that the evidence pointed to suicide.

Danelle Geier and George Ishler given life sentences for Ronald Bettig murder

However, both Geier and Ishler were eventually convicted of first-degree murder and were given mandatory life sentences. Geier is currently incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution in Muncy, PA, and Ishler is held at the State Correctional Institution in Coal Township, PA.

After sentencing, Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna said, “It speaks to the hard work that State College police and state police put in on the front end. I’m just the lawyer. They had done all the work, and all the evidence was there.”

Both Geier and Ishler have had appeals turned down.

Snapped airs Sundays at 6/5c on Oxygen.