Woman charged in alleged years-long harassment campaign targeting Hilltown victim

A Pittsburgh woman is facing dozens of felony charges after police said she carried out a years-long harassment campaign targeting her late brother’s fiancé and those connected to her in Hilltown Township.

Jennifer Lynn Kelly, 54, has been accused of repeatedly contacting the victim, her family and others since 2022, despite being told multiple times to stop, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Hilltown Township Police.

Investigators allege Kelly made trips from Pittsburgh to Bucks County, where she left packages at residences and mailed books and other materials to the victim’s family and former workplace. Some of the items included written accusations related to the death of Kelly’s brother, while others appeared intended to alarm or distress the victim and her relatives, police said.

Police said the behavior escalated over time. In one instance, a package delivered to the victim’s home earlier this year allegedly contained a shoebox diorama with a drawing of the residence and recordings of the victim’s voice. 

Investigators said license plate reader data placed a vehicle registered to Kelly near the homes of the victim and her family on multiple occasions tied to the incidents.

Authorities said Kelly had previously acknowledged contacting the victim and agreed to stop after being warned by police, but the conduct allegedly continued. 

She was arraigned April 14 before Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage on 36 felony counts related to unlawful interception of communications, along with two misdemeanor counts each of stalking and harassment. 

Kelly posted 10% of $100,000 cash bail ahead of a May 5 preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage. She has retained Doylestown defense attorney William Craig Penglase.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.