Case will proceed against mother, daughter accused of stealing from estate of Greensburg Beverage CEO

A mother and daughter accused of stealing a relative’s $4.4 million inheritance from the estate of the late Greensburg Beverage CEO will have criminal charges proceed in Westmoreland County Court, a district judge ruled Thursday.

Angela Lynne Valesky, 26, of Murrysville and her mother, Lisa Anne Skatell-Valesky, 51, of Jeannette were charged in January. They are accused of theft and dealing in proceeds of unlawful acts involving the estate of Bette Iannuzzo, who was Skatell-Valesky’s mother.

Westmoreland County Detective Ray Dupilka said in court papers the pair used the money to buy a $122,000 Lincoln Navigator SUV. About $575,000 was used to purchase homes in Murrysville and Jeannette.

Iannuzzo became CEO of Greensburg Beverage in 2013 following the death of her husband, G. Lewis Iannuzzo. Bette Iannuzzo died in 2017, and an estate was opened for assets and properties to be disbursed among her heirs.

Florida resident Jennifer Knopp — Skatell-Valesky’s sister — inquired with her attorney in November about the status of the estate, which prompted the investigation. A disbursement hearing was held via a phone call in early December 2022, after which Knopp’s $4.4 million inheritance was released.

Police believe Skatell-Valesky might have participated in the hearing and presented herself as Knopp.

Knopp denied testifying by phone and said she did not authorize her sister to take control of her inheritance.

Skatell-Valesky was supposed to receive $193,200 from her mother’s estate, according to police.

Knopp testified in person during a preliminary hearing Thursday that she relied on her sister to keep her informed regarding the estate.

“I trusted her because she’s my sister and my friend, I thought,” she said.

Knopp said she received no notification of the $4.4 million inheritance until shortly before charges were filed against her sister and niece.

“I fell on the floor,” Knopp said, recalling when she learned of the inheritance. “I had no idea.”

The $4.4 million inheritance check was turned over to a Pittsburgh attorney following the December 2022 hearing, according to court papers. It was deposited into a joint account with the names of Knopp and Angela Valesky on the paperwork.

Several million dollars were transferred from the account from December 2022 to May 2023, when the account was closed.

Assistant District Attorney Jim Lazar said in a late January hearing Skatell-Valesky and her daughter participated in a scheme to take control of Knopp’s inheritance. He argued Thursday charges of perjury and forgery should be made against Skatell-Valesky and her daughter.

Defense attorney Paul Ellis, representing Angela Valesky, argued there is no evidence to support a conspiracy. He said it was “outrageous” the December 2022 hearing was held via a phone call.

“My client is sitting in jail,” Ellis said, “solely on somebody’s word that there are a few questionable transactions.”

Skatell-Valesky and her daughter are being held in Westmoreland County Prison with bail set at $1 million.

Ellis requested bail be decreased. Greensburg District Judge Chris Flanigan said it was not in her power to enact that change.

A formal arraignment for Skatell-Valesky and her daughter is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. April 2 before Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Michael Stewart II.