Next Of Kin Sought For South Whitehall Township Man Found Dead: Lehigh County Coroner Next Of Kin Sought For South Whitehall Township Man Found Dead: Lehigh County Coroner
Next Of Kin Sought For South Whitehall Township Man Found Dead: Lehigh County Coroner The Lehigh County Coroner's Office is asking for the public's help in locating the family of a South Whitehall Township man who died of natural causes, the office announced on Monday, Dec. 30. Michael W. Kendzierski, 58, was pronounced dead at Cedarbrook Nursing Home on Friday, Dec. 27, according to the coroner's office. Efforts to locate his next of kin have been unsuccessful. Anyone with information about Mr. Kendzierski’s family is urged to contact the Lehigh County Coroner's Office & Forensic Center at 610-782-3426 or via email at danielbuglio@lehighcounty.org. No further details h…
Ice Skating Accident Claims Life Of Costa Rica Woman In Pennsylvania Ice Skating Accident Claims Life Of Costa Rica Woman In Pennsylvania
Ice Skating Accident Claims Life Of Costa Rica Woman In Pennsylvania A 63-year-old Costa Rican woman died following a tragic ice-skating accident in Bethlehem, authorities announced on Monday, Dec. 30. Maria Luisa Jimenez was pronounced dead at 1:33 a.m. at St. Luke's University Hospital, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office. Jimenez suffered a fatal closed head injury after falling backward and striking her head on the ice while skating, officials said. The manner of death has been ruled accidental. The incident occurred while Jimenez was visiting Bethlehem from Costa Rica. Further details about the accident have not been released.
'I’m Going To Kill You Today,' PA Mom Tells Family Before Stabbing Daughter: Police 'I’m Going To Kill You Today,' PA Mom Tells Family Before Stabbing Daughter: Police
'I’m Going To Kill You Today,' PA Mom Tells Family Before Stabbing Daughter: Police A Warminster mother threatened to kill her family and stabbed her adult daughter during an altercation at their apartment, police announced on Friday, Dec. 27. Rebecca Ann Watson, 46, was arrested after police responded to Rosewood Court Apartments at 345 E County Line Road, Warminster Township, for a reported stabbing around 11:01 a.m., authorities said. Upon arrival, officers found Victim #1, who identified Watson as her mother and claimed she was stabbed by her. Police observed a two-inch stab wound on the victim's left arm, according to the release. She was transported to a local hospit…
Mutations Observed In First Severe Human Bird Flu Case In US, CDC Says Mutations Observed In First Severe Human Bird Flu Case In US, CDC Says
Mutations Observed In First Severe Human Bird Flu Case In US, CDC Says The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified mutations in the the first severe bird flu case in the US that may increase its ability to infect humans.  These mutations, found in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, play a key role in helping the virus attach to cells in the upper respiratory tract. This discovery stems from the first severe US case of H5N1, involving a Louisiana resident over 65 who had direct contact with infected backyard birds.  Earlier report: First Severe Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US Notably, these mutations weren’t present in the bird sam…
Man Charged With Rape In Pennsylvania Sentenced For Jan. 6 US Capitol Riot Man Charged With Rape In Pennsylvania Sentenced For Jan. 6 US Capitol Riot
Man Charged With Rape In Pennsylvania Sentenced For Jan. 6 US Capitol Riot A Cumberland County man sentenced to prison for assaulting police officers during the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot is also facing rape and domestic violence charges in York County. Joseph Pastucci, 50, of New Cumberland, stormed the Capitol with his wife, Jeanette Mangia, who is currently awaiting trial for her role in the insurrection. Pastucci was sentenced to 26 months in prison and three years of supervised release after being convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder, assaulting officers, and several misdemeanor charges, according to federal prosecuto…
Woman Shot By PA State Trooper After Firing Multiple Shots During Standoff: DA Woman Shot By PA State Trooper After Firing Multiple Shots During Standoff: DA
Woman Shot By PA State Trooper After Firing Multiple Shots During Standoff: DA A Pennsylvania state trooper shot a woman following a standoff in Middle Paxton Township on Thursday, Dec. 26, Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said. The standoff occurred in the 400 block of Fried Drive and escalated when the woman, identified as Samantha Leigh Atherholt, fired multiple shots, Chardo explained on Friday, Dec. 27. "One member of the PSP fired a shot," Chardo said. "The attached motion details how Samantha Atherholt fired multiple shots at police." According to court documents obtained by Daily Voice, Atherholt’s bail has been revoked following her actions d…
PA Man Found Dead In River By Dog Walker, Coroner Says PA Man Found Dead In River By Dog Walker, Coroner Says
PA Man Found Dead In River By Dog Walker, Coroner Says A 34-year-old man from Emmaus was found dead in Jordan Creek in Allentown, the Lehigh County Coroner's Office announced on Friday, Dec. 27. Daniel Leibensperger, 34, was pronounced dead at 12:33 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, near the 1200 block of North 6th Street in Allentown, according to the coroner's office. Leibensperger was reportedly found partly submerged in the creek by a passerby walking their dog, the coroner said. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 30, at the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office and Forensic Center to determine the cause and manner of death. The investigation is …
Stowaway Found On Delta Flight For Second Time In Month Stowaway Found On Delta Flight For Second Time In Month
Stowaway Found On Delta Flight For Second Time In Month For the second time in a month a stowaway was caught on a Delta Air Lines flight, sparking concerns. The flight, from Seattle to Honolulu, was preparing for takeoff when crew members discovered the unticketed passenger onboard, leading to the plane returning to the gate on Christmas Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 24. Delta Airlines said that safety protocols were followed, resulting in the passenger’s removal and subsequent detention by law enforcement. The identity of the person has not been released. “As there are no matters more important than safety and security, Delta people followed…
PA Man Struck Dead On Christmas: Coroner PA Man Struck Dead On Christmas: Coroner
PA Man Struck Dead On Christmas: Coroner A 75-year-old pedestrian, Edward D. Tomcics, was struck and killed by a motor vehicle on Christmas Day in Whitehall Township, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office. The incident occurred at approximately 6:54 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in the 3200 block of Water Street, officials said. Tomcics was rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, where he was pronounced dead at 7:32 p.m. An autopsy performed by the coroner revealed that Tomcics died from blunt force injuries sustained in the collision. His death has been ruled an accident. The incident is under investigation by…
Missing Endangered Alert Issued For 74-Year-Old Woman: PA State Police Missing Endangered Alert Issued For 74-Year-Old Woman: PA State Police
Missing Endangered Alert Issued For 74-Year-Old Woman: PA State Police Pennsylvania State Police in Rockview are searching for a missing endangered woman last seen in Centre County on Christmas Day. Frances Mottorn, 74, of Bellefonte, was last observed between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Dec. 25 at Mount Nittany Medical Center, where she was visiting a patient, police said. She has not returned home and may be disoriented. Mottorn is described as 5 feet, 2 inches tall with a small build, brown hair, and brown eyes. She was wearing dark-colored pants with a floral pattern and a white coat at the time of her disappearance. She may be driving a blue Volkswagen Passat …
U.S. Attorney for Middle District of Pennsylvania Announces Resignation U.S. Attorney for Middle District of Pennsylvania Announces Resignation
U.S. Attorney for Middle District of Pennsylvania Announces Resignation Gerard M. Karam, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, has announced his resignation, effective January 10, 2025. Appointed by President Biden in 2022, Karam described the role as "an honor of a lifetime" and expressed gratitude to federal and local law enforcement partners for their dedication to public safety and justice. During his tenure, Karam prioritized public safety, healthcare fraud, civil rights enforcement, and tackling fraud and theft. His office prosecuted numerous high-profile cases, including: A life sentence for a man convicted in the murder …
Missing Endangered Alert Issued For 77-Year-Old Man: PA State Police Missing Endangered Alert Issued For 77-Year-Old Man: PA State Police
Missing Endangered Alert Issued For 77-Year-Old Man: PA State Police A 77-year-old Centre County man is missing, and Pennsylvania State Police are asking for the public's help in locating him. Leon Bowman was last seen near his mailbox on Howard Divide Road in Curtin Township on Dec. 23, 2024, between noon and 4 p.m., police said. He is described as 6 feet tall, weighing 110-120 pounds, with gray balding hair, a white beard, and brown eyes. Authorities issued a Missing Endangered Person Advisory (MEPA) and believe Bowman may be at special risk of harm or injury or could be confused. Anyone with information on Bowman's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or…
Pedestrian Killed In Christmas Day Hit-And-Run: Philadelphia Police Pedestrian Killed In Christmas Day Hit-And-Run: Philadelphia Police
Pedestrian Killed In Christmas Day Hit-And-Run: Philadelphia Police A man in his 40s was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Snyder Avenue in Philadelphia’s 3rd District, police announced on Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 9:35 p.m. The pedestrian was walking in the bike lane on the 3XX block of Snyder Avenue when he was struck by an unknown tan sedan traveling eastbound, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. The driver fled the scene, continuing eastbound on Snyder Avenue, police said. Medics from the Philadelphia Fire Department pronounced the man dead at the scene at 9:40 p.m. The crash scene was held for an investigation by the Crash Investigation Di…
Man Stabbed Inside Bethlehem Home By Teen On Christmas Night: Police Man Stabbed Inside Bethlehem Home By Teen On Christmas Night: Police
Man Stabbed Inside Bethlehem Home By Teen On Christmas Night: Police A man was stabbed inside a Bethlehem home late on Christmas night, leading to the arrest of a juvenile suspect, police said. Officers responded to a reported assault in the 1900 block of Gatewood Lane on Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 11:05 p.m., according to the Bethlehem Police Department. Inside the home, police found an adult male with stab wounds to his body. The victim, along with witnesses at the scene, identified the suspect as a juvenile who had fled in a vehicle, authorities said. Police quickly located the vehicle and arrested the juvenile. The victim was taken to a local hospital…
Armed Burglary, Standoff At PA Pharmacy On Christmas Eve Lands 2 Charges Armed Burglary, Standoff At PA Pharmacy On Christmas Eve Lands 2 Charges
Armed Burglary, Standoff At PA Pharmacy On Christmas Eve Lands 2 Charges Two men have been charged following an armed burglary and standoff with police at the Fountain Hill Pharmacy in Lehigh County on Christmas Eve, authorities announced Wednesday, Dec. 25. Miguel Martinez, 56, of Allentown, and David Vazquez, 33, of Bethlehem, face multiple charges, including felony burglary, felony recklessly endangering another person, and several misdemeanors such as theft by unlawful taking, prohibited offensive weapon, and possessing an instrument of crime, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan. The charges stem from an incident at 1049 Broadway th…
Nationwide Recall Issued For Brand Of Eye Drops Over Contamination Risk Nationwide Recall Issued For Brand Of Eye Drops Over Contamination Risk
Nationwide Recall Issued For Brand Of Eye Drops Over Contamination Risk A nationwide recall has been issued for a specific lot of eye drops due to potential fungal contamination, which could cause serious eye infections. The recall involves lubricant eye drops under the Systane brand, manufactured by Alcon Laboratories, following a report of fungal material found in a sealed vial.  No illnesses have been reported, but fungal contamination can pose vision-threatening risks and, in rare cases, life-threatening complications for immunocompromised individuals. Details of the recall: Specific brand: Systane Lubricant Eye Drops Ultra PF, Single Vials On-…
Serial PA Bank Robber Caught Red-Handed Fleeing PNC Bank With $4K Cash: FBI Serial PA Bank Robber Caught Red-Handed Fleeing PNC Bank With $4K Cash: FBI
Serial PA Bank Robber Caught Red-Handed Fleeing PNC Bank With $4K Cash: FBI A suspected serial bank robber was apprehended moments after he fled the PNC Bank on Hulmeville Road with $4,000 in cash on Monday, Dec. 23, authorities announced on Tuesday, Dec. 24.  Marc Masich, 47, of Amherst, NY, was captured by officers outside the bank at 5:21 p.m. while carrying a gray-and-white bag containing the stolen money, according to Bensalem police. Masich had handed a teller a demand note similar to one used earlier that day at the TD Bank on Street Road, where he reportedly fled after being told cash was unavailable. He also attempted a robbery at the Santander Bank…
Iconic Trailblazer Sylvia H. Rambo, First Female Chief Judge In PA, Dies At 88 Iconic Trailblazer Sylvia H. Rambo, First Female Chief Judge In PA, Dies At 88
Iconic Trailblazer Sylvia H. Rambo, First Female Chief Judge In PA, Dies At 88 Sylvia H. Rambo, an iconic figure in Pennsylvania’s legal community and the first woman to serve as Chief Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, passed away in December 2024 at the age of 88. Her pioneering career and unwavering commitment to justice leave an indelible legacy. The legal world is mourning the loss of Judge Sylvia H. Rambo, whose groundbreaking career spanned more than four decades. Born in 1936 in Royersford, Pennsylvania, Judge Rambo broke barriers at every turn, cementing her place as a trailblazer for women in law. Judge Rambo's Milesto…
Nurse Killed By Husband In Apparent Murder-Suicide In Pennsylvania Home Nurse Killed By Husband In Apparent Murder-Suicide In Pennsylvania Home
Nurse Killed By Husband In Apparent Murder-Suicide In Pennsylvania Home A woman was shot and killed by her husband before he took his own life in an apparent murder-suicide in Manor, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office, WPXI Channel 11 News reports. Police responded to a shooting at a home in Manor Township around 6:22 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22, according to the outlet. Arriving officers discovered Terri Day, 51, dead from a gunshot wound, authorities said. Her husband, Jeffrey Day, was also found at the scene with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Manor Borough Police Chief Randy Clarson told WPXI. Theresa "Terri" Day was a beloved …
California Man Pleads Guilty To Child Pornography, Bomb Hoax Targeting Pennsylvania Teen California Man Pleads Guilty To Child Pornography, Bomb Hoax Targeting Pennsylvania Teen
California Man Pleads Guilty To Child Pornography, Bomb Hoax Targeting Pennsylvania Teen A California man admitted to distributing child pornography and making a bomb threat hoax against a Cumberland County teen, federal authorities announced. Nathaniel Sean Deleon, 20, of Tulare, California, pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2024, to charges of child pornography distribution and making a false bomb threat, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The charges stem from a retaliation campaign against a 16-year-old minor he met on the Roblox gaming platform in 2023. Prosecutors said Deleon initiated 23 swatting incidents between June and November …
Chester County Man With Traumatic Brain Injury Pleads Guilty To Lancaster County Crime Spree Chester County Man With Traumatic Brain Injury Pleads Guilty To Lancaster County Crime Spree
Chester County Man With Traumatic Brain Injury Pleads Guilty To Lancaster County Crime Spree A Chester County man blamed a traumatic brain injury and addiction for his months-long crime spree across Lancaster County, which ended in a violent crash, prosecutors announced on Tuesday, Dec. 24. James Steffy, 41, of West Ridge Road in West Nottingham Township, pleaded guilty to 35 charges, including aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, burglary, theft, and access device fraud, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office. Steffy suffered a traumatic brain injury that caused significant memory loss after crashing a stolen vehicle head-on into a…
State Employee Stole $130K From Mom Who Killed Both Her Sons In Pennsylvania: DA State Employee Stole $130K From Mom Who Killed Both Her Sons In Pennsylvania: DA
State Employee Stole $130K From Mom Who Killed Both Her Sons In Pennsylvania: DA A Philadelphia woman stole over $130,000 from a former Norristown State Hospital resident who was convicted of murdering her two young sons, using the funds for personal expenses, including a Puerto Rico vacation, officials announced on Monday, Dec. 23. Bridget Nicole Compton, 51, is accused of stealing $132,480.01 from the TD Ameritrade account of Trinh Nguyen, a former Norristown State Hospital resident, officials in Bucks County, PA said. Nguyen is currently serving two life sentences for fatally shooting her sons, 13-year-old Jeffrey “JT” Tini and 9-year-old Nelson Tini, in their Upper M…
NJ 'Hot Shot' Murderess Found Dead In PA Prison Cell 3 Days After Probation Violation Arrest NJ 'Hot Shot' Murderess Found Dead In PA Prison Cell 3 Days After Probation Violation Arrest
NJ 'Hot Shot' Murderess Found Dead In PA Prison Cell 3 Days After Probation Violation Arrest A New Jersey woman convicted of murder, who admitted to injecting a man with a fatal mix of cocaine and bleach, was found dead in her cell at the State Correctional Institution at Muncy, officials announced. Lisa Marie Stavish, 41, a Passaic, NJ native, was discovered unresponsive in her cell on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, according to Wendy Nicholas, superintendent of SCI Muncy. Prison staff attempted life-saving measures until emergency responders arrived, but Stavish was pronounced dead at 6:07 a.m. Stavish was serving a 7-to-20-year sentence for third-degree murder in the death of David…
'Angel Of Lancaster' Exploited Hundreds Of PennDOT Customers In Bribery Scheme 'Angel Of Lancaster' Exploited Hundreds Of PennDOT Customers In Bribery Scheme
'Angel Of Lancaster' Exploited Hundreds Of PennDOT Customers In Bribery Scheme A self-proclaimed "Angel of Lancaster" exploited hundreds of Spanish-speaking PennDOT customers, coercing at least 35 victims into paying for answers on driver’s license tests, Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams announced on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. Angelo Carrion, 68, of West Lampeter Township, admitted to accepting bribes and tampering with public records while working as a Driver License Examiner Assistant at PennDOT centers in East Hempfield and East Lampeter townships between April 2021 and May 2022, according to the DA’s office. Carrion was sentenced to seven years of prob…
Punched Federal Corrections Officer At PA Prison Lands Kentucky Drug Trafficker Extra 41 Months Punched Federal Corrections Officer At PA Prison Lands Kentucky Drug Trafficker Extra 41 Months
Demetrius Catching Gets 41 More Months For PA Prison Assault A Kentucky drug trafficker serving time in Pennsylvania has been sentenced to an additional 41 months in prison for punching a corrections officer at the Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) Allenwood, federal officials announced on Monday, Dec. 23. Demetrius Catching, 34, formerly of Nicholasville, Kentucky, attacked the officer in 2016 while serving a 60-month sentence for distributing crack cocaine. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, will run consecutively to the 148 months Catching is already serving for drug distribution and money laundering convic…
Philly Kingpin Linked to 12 Murders, Deadly Firebombing Spared Death Penalty by Biden Philly Kingpin Linked to 12 Murders, Deadly Firebombing Spared Death Penalty by Biden
Philly Kingpin Linked to 12 Murders, Deadly Firebombing Spared Death Penalty by Biden The life of a notorious Philadelphia drug kingpin has been spared as President Joe Biden commuted the death sentence of Kaboni Savage, who was convicted in 2013 for orchestrating the brutal firebombing of a family home that killed six people. Savage, 49, was initially sentenced to death for the 2004 arson attack on the home of Eugene Coleman, a former associate who had begun cooperating with federal investigators. The fire killed Coleman's mother, infant son, and four other relatives, according to federal prosecutors. Savage, a former boxer turned drug trafficker, was also found guilty of i…
IRS Sending Special Payments To 1 Million Americans: Here's What To Know IRS Sending Special Payments To 1 Million Americans: Here's What To Know
IRS Sending Special Payments To 1 Million Americans: Here's What To Know The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced it will issue automatic payments this month to nearly one million taxpayers who didn’t claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns.  These payments aim to assist eligible individuals who missed claiming the credit, which provides up to $1,400 per person for those who didn’t receive the full amount of their Economic Impact Payments (EIPs). Who Will Receive Payments? Eligible taxpayers include those who filed a 2021 tax return but either left the Recovery Rebate Credit field blank or entered $0 despite qualifying. Payments wil…
Norovirus Outbreak Prompts Recall Of Oysters Sold In PA Norovirus Outbreak Prompts Recall Of Oysters Sold In PA
Norovirus Outbreak Prompts Recall Of Oysters Sold In PA New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington DC residents are being urged to avoid consuming certain oysters after a recall linked to a norovirus outbreak, federal officials announced.  The contaminated oysters were sold under the brands Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, and Royal Miyagi and harvested between Dec. 1 and Dec. 9, 2024, from British Columbia (BC), Canada, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The oysters, distributed by S&M Shellfish Co. of San Francisco, were shipped to retailers and restaurants across several states, including New Jersey, New York, Pe…
Philly Mom, Sister Jailed For Neglecting Quadriplegic Relative Defrauding Medicaid Of $140K: AG Philly Mom, Sister Jailed For Neglecting Quadriplegic Relative Defrauding Medicaid Of $140K: AG
Philly Mom, Sister Jailed For Neglecting Quadriplegic Relative Defrauding Medicaid Of $140K: AG A Philadelphia mother and sister who served as caregivers to a quadriplegic man have been sentenced to prison for neglect that left him hospitalized in critical condition, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced on Thursday, Dec. 19. Rashina Long, 48, and Jasmine Long, 33, pleaded guilty in September to neglect of a care-dependent person and Medicaid fraud, according to Henry. Both women were sentenced to two to four years in prison, followed by seven years of probation. They are also banned from working as caregivers during their sentences. The Longs were employed as direct …
Nine Puppies Abandoned In Box At Montgomery County Park Rescued By SPCA Nine Puppies Abandoned In Box At Montgomery County Park Rescued By SPCA
Nine Puppies Abandoned In Box At Montgomery County Park Rescued By SPCA Nine four-week-old puppies were found abandoned in a box at Merion Gateway Park in Montgomery County earlier this week, Pennsylvania SPCA officials announced. The puppies, left out in the cold and unable to fend for themselves, were reportedly caked in feces, suffering from urine scalding, and in desperate need of care, according to a release from the organization. “These puppies were given a heartbreaking start, but they now have a chance at a better life,” the SPCA wrote in a social media post. Upon their arrival at the shelter, the puppies were gently bathed, medically examined, and…
Former Scranton Officer, School Resource Officer Accused Of Abusing Students Over Years: PA AG Former Scranton Officer, School Resource Officer Accused Of Abusing Students Over Years: PA AG
Former Scranton Officer, School Resource Officer Accused Of Abusing Students Over Years: PA AG A former Scranton police officer assigned as a school resource officer at West Scranton High School is facing 46 charges of sexually abusing five students over several years, Attorney General Michelle Henry announced on Friday, Dec. 20. Stephen J. Carroll, 49, has been charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, official oppression, and institutional sexual assault, among other offenses, according to the Pennsylvania State Police and Attorney General's Office. The alleged crimes occurred between 2009 and recent years while Carroll was employed as a S…