People in Beaver Falls are still talking. It’s been a little while since the headlines cooled off, but if you walk down 6th Avenue or grab a coffee near the Tiger’s stadium, the name Eric Mason still brings a certain heavy silence to the room.
Honestly, the whole thing felt like a movie script. But it wasn't. It was real life in a small PA town where everyone knows your business—or thinks they do. Eric "Cratch" Mason wasn't just another name in a police report. He was a guy with deep, tangled roots in the community. He was a father. He was a die-hard Steelers fan. And then, on a freezing day in late December 2024, he became the center of a homicide investigation that rattled Beaver County to its core.
What Really Happened at 234 11th Street?
You’ve probably seen the snippets. A vacant building. A car that never came back. A body wrapped in tarps.
It started on December 30, 2024. A woman called the police because Eric Mason had borrowed her car and vanished. That’s not usually how these things go in Beaver Falls. People usually show up. When the car was eventually tracked to a desolate, vacant building at 234 11th Street, the red flags weren't just waving; they were screaming.
Inside that building, investigators found Eric. He had been shot in the head.
The scene was grim. It wasn't a random act of violence in a dark alley. Detectives quickly realized this was calculated. Surveillance footage and witness interviews started painting a picture of a man named Daniel Felo II. Felo had been doing work on that very building. According to court documents and statements from District Attorney Nate Bible, a witness actually overheard Felo talking about a plan. A plan to lure Eric Mason to that building and kill him.
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The "Rat" Rumor and the Motive
Why? That’s the question that kept everyone up at night.
In small towns, rumors travel faster than the truth. The word on the street—and what eventually made its way into the police affidavit—was that this was about "snitching." A witness told investigators they heard Felo on the phone claiming that Mason had "ratted" on a friend, leading to a 15-year prison sentence.
Whether that was true or just a deadly misunderstanding, it's what allegedly fueled the fire.
The hunt for Felo didn't last forever, but it felt like it. The Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force finally caught up with him on January 9, 2025, in Connellsville. He was charged with homicide and robbery. But for the people who grew up with "Cratch," an arrest doesn't bring a person back. It just starts the long, slow process of the legal system.
Eric Mason: More Than a Headline
If you only read the crime blotter, you’d miss who Eric Mason actually was.
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He was 48 years old when he died. He was a guy who lived for his daughter, Lyric. You’d see him at the Beaver Falls Tigers games, cheering louder than anyone. He was a "family man" in the truest sense of the word, often surrounded by his brothers, sisters, and a massive extended family that includes the Cleckleys and the Wrights.
Beaver Falls Mayor Kenya Johns put it pretty simply: he was an important part of the community. He had those "deep roots" people talk about in Pennsylvania. He was kind. He was gracious. He was the guy you’d see at the USG United States Gypsum Co. where he worked, just doing his thing.
Confusion with Other "Eric Masons"
It’s worth clearing something up because Google can be a mess sometimes. If you search for "Eric Mason PA," you might run into a few other guys.
- There’s Dr. Eric Mason, the famous pastor from Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia. He’s an author and a huge figure in the "Woke Church" movement. Not the same guy.
- There was another Eric Michael Mason (known as "E-Fats") from New Brighton who had federal drug charges back in 2012.
- And there's even an Eric Mason who is a well-known track coach in Utah.
The Eric Mason from the 11th Street tragedy in Beaver Falls was different. He was a local fixture. A father. A fan. A neighbor.
The Impact on Beaver Falls
Beaver County isn't exactly a high-crime mecca, so when a homicide like this happens, it leaves a mark. District Attorney Nate Bible said it best: "The streets are a little bit rattled by this one."
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People are upset. They’re angry. There’s a sense that a "loving and caring individual" was taken out in a way that felt especially cold and unnecessary. The fact that he was found in a vacant building, hidden away, just added to the local heartbreak.
His homegoing service at the Light of Salvation Church was packed. That tells you everything you need to know. You don't fill a church like that unless you meant something to the people around you.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for the Community
When a tragedy like this hits a small town, it’s easy to feel helpless. But there are ways to move forward and honor the memory of someone like Eric Mason while keeping the community safe.
- Support the Family: Lyric Mason lost her father. Community members often set up memorials or funds for children of victims. Check with local organizations or the Light of Salvation Church for ways to help.
- Vigilance with Vacant Properties: The building on 11th Street was vacant. If you see suspicious activity or unauthorized "work" being done on abandoned properties in your neighborhood, report it to the Beaver Falls Police Department at (724) 847-2808.
- Address the "Snitching" Culture: Much of the violence in urban and suburban areas stems from the "stop snitching" mentality. Engaging in community dialogues with the DA’s office can help bridge the gap between residents and law enforcement, making it safer for witnesses to speak up before a tragedy happens.
- Stay Informed on the Case: Daniel Felo II’s case is moving through the Beaver County court system. Attending public hearings or following local news updates from outlets like the Beaver County Times ensures the community stays engaged in the pursuit of justice.
The story of Eric Mason in Beaver Falls isn't just about a crime. It’s about a man who was loved and a community that is trying to figure out how to heal after a senseless loss. Justice is coming, but the memory of "Cratch" Mason is what people will actually hold onto.