Officer-Involved Shooting Near Penn Township Massage Spa 'Completely Justified': Lancaster DA Officer-Involved Shooting Near Penn Township Massage Spa 'Completely Justified': Lancaster DA
Officer-Involved Shooting Near Penn Township Massage Spa 'Completely Justified': Lancaster DA A Northern Lancaster County Regional Police officer was "completely justified" in using deadly force to stop an armed robber from fleeing a massage business — Calm Spa — after allegedly raping two of its female employees, authorities said Tuesday, Sept. 10. Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams announced the conclusion of an investigation of the officer-involved shooting at the Penn Town Shopping Center, Penn Township, where the fleeing and armed suspect was shot twice by an officer responding to a "burglary in progress." Charges have been filed against the suspect, 36-year-old C…
33-Week Pregnant Driver Killed In 4 Vehicle Crash: PA State Police 33-Week Pregnant Driver Killed In 4 Vehicle Crash: PA State Police
33-Week Pregnant Driver Killed In 4 Vehicle Crash: PA State Police A 29-year-old mom-to-be died in surgery following a four-vehicle crash approximately two weeks before her fifth wedding anniversary, according to her social media and as Pennsylvania State Police told Daily Voice on Tuesday, Sept. 10.  A 33-week pregnant, Katharyn "Kayte" M. (Kocher) Derhammer, had stopped her 2011 Nissan Rogue in heavy traffic in the right lane of Interstate 99 North near mile marker 76.6 in Benner Township when she was rear-ended at a high rate of speed by a 2012 GMC Yukon driven by 31-year-old Christopher J. Sauders of Boalsburg, PSP Rockview Howard Sweeny detailed …
'Violent Predator' Gets Life For Killing Bucks County Co-Worker, Dumping Body In MD 'Violent Predator' Gets Life For Killing Bucks County Co-Worker, Dumping Body In MD
'Violent Predator' Gets Life For Killing Bucks County Co-Worker, Dumping Body In MD A man described by authorities as a "violent predator" was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Monday, Sept. 9 for kidnapping, robbing, and killing a Pennsylvania co-worker, authorities announced. Michael Allen Stark, 50, of Royersford, PA was found guilty by a Bucks County jury of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping, theft by unlawful taking, flight to avoid apprehension, and abuse of a corpse, according to District Attorney Jennifer Schorn and court records. Stark's victim was 50-year-old Matthew James Branning of Sellersville, who went missing after l…
GUILTY! Philly Man Permanently Disfigures Ex-GF In Soda Ash Attack: USDOJ GUILTY! Philly Man Permanently Disfigures Ex-GF In Soda Ash Attack: USDOJ
Guilty! Philly Man Permanently Disfigures Ex-GF In Soda Ash Attack: Usdoj A Philadelphia man was convicted on Friday, Sept. 6 after a trial of stalking his ex — a federal employee — and burning her face with a corrosive substance, nearly blinding her in one eye while she was on her way to work, federal authorities said. Victor Ortiz, 47, of Philadelphia, threw a "caustic substance" — soda ash — at her face and torso, on May 4, 2022, according to U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. His attack temporarily blinded her in the left eye and caused severe pain and permanent scarring on her body, Romero said. Investigators found that Ortizz had attached a GPS device to…
Mom Of 4 Killed In Schuylkill County Crash: Lehigh County Coroner Mom Of 4 Killed In Schuylkill County Crash: Lehigh County Coroner
Mom Of 4 Killed In Schuylkill County Crash: Lehigh County Coroner A 37-year-old mother of four was killed in a crash after striking several parked cars on Monday, Sept. 9 in Schuylkill County, authorities announced the following morning. Lisa Marie Dimitri, of Pottsville, was pronounced dead in the Emergency Department at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest at 10:20 a.m., according to Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio. The cause of death was blunt force injuries to the torso and the manner was accidental, the coroner explained. Dimitri had driven her car into multiple parked vehicles in the 2000 block of W. Market Street, in Pottsville aro…
SpaceX Rocket Spotted Over Pennsylvania SpaceX Rocket Spotted Over Pennsylvania
SpaceX Rocket Spotted Over Pennsylvania No, it wasn't a UFO. That was a SpaceX rocket you saw early Tuesday, Sept. 10. Falcon 9 launched its Polaris Dawn rocket into space from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 5:23 a.m. Daily Voice readers captured footage of the rocket from Hackensack and Westwood, NJ (see Instagram reel below). Others shared videos of the rocket over Pennsylvania, Maryland, NYC, and more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daily Voice NJ (@dailyvoicenewjersey) Dawn jellyfish of Polaris Dawn lights up the skies over the Susquehanna River! pic.twi…
Man Rescued From Cave In Central PA: Officials (PHOTOS) Man Rescued From Cave In Central PA: Officials (PHOTOS)
Man Rescued From Cave In Central PA: Officials (Photos) Numerous emergency crews rescued a man "who was wedged in a crevice, deep inside the Wind Cave at the Clark Nature Preserve" on Saturday night into Sunday morning, officials explained to Daily Voice on Monday, Sept. 9.  The man was rescued after 1 a.m. after over five and a half hours stuck in the cave, rescue workers explained.  Crews were called to the scene at the Clark Nature Preserve Bridge Valley Road in Martic Township 6:12 p.m.  The cave posed numerous challenges: dark, narrow, slippery conditions within Wind Cave. A tube to supply the man oxygen was lowered down at …
Trooper Shoots Man Dead During Standoff At Trailer Park: PA State Police Trooper Shoots Man Dead During Standoff At Trailer Park: PA State Police
Trooper Shoots Man Dead During Standoff At Trailer Park: PA State Police A Pennsylvania state trooper shot a man dead during a standoff at a mobile home park on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Lycoming County, authorities said. The officer-involved shooting remains under investigation pending an autopsy on Monday, Sept. 9, they said. At about 2:50 p.m. Saturday, Pennsylvania State Police at Montoursville was dispatched to a disturbance at 152 Boak Ave., Lot 49, in Wolf Township. Upon arrival, the investigation revealed that Gary Lee McCartney, 62, exited his trailer and started a verbal argument with a man doing work on an adjacent trailer, State Police said. A…
John Gaudreau's Wife Announces Pregnancy With Third Baby At Funeral John Gaudreau's Wife Announces Pregnancy With Third Baby At Funeral
John Gaudreau's Wife Announces Pregnancy With Third Baby At Funeral As if the Gaudreau's story couldn't get any more tragic, Johnny's wife, Meredith, announced she's nine weeks pregnant with their third child — "a total surprise" — at his funeral service on Monday, Sept. 9. During her eulogy live-streamed by the Calgary Flames, Meredith said she and John shared an amazing six months as a family of four. Then announced there was another baby on the way. The audience audibly gasped at the news.  "These will forever be the best six months of my life," she said from the service in Delaware County, PA. "There's specifically one week I'll cherish forever, it…
Pregnant Passenger Killed When BF Falls Asleep At Wheel: PA State Police Pregnant Passenger Killed When BF Falls Asleep At Wheel: PA State Police
Pregnant Passenger Killed When BF Falls Asleep At Wheel: PA State Police A 20-year-old passenger was 16 weeks pregnant when her partner fell asleep at the wheel and fatally crashed on Saturday, Sept. 7, according to her social media and Pennsylvania State Police.  Nadia Startzman, was in 19-year-old Tristen Armolt's 2004 Ford Freestar when he fell asleep, lost control of the vehicle, struck a utility pole with the front passenger side of the vehicle, and spun out — ejecting Startzman — she was pronounced dead at the scene, PSP Carlisle Trooper Luke Fiore explained in the release.  Armolt had been going east on Route 641/Newville Road at the t…
SEEN HIM? Manhunt In Machete Attack In Upper Merion Township (DEVELOPING) SEEN HIM? Manhunt In Machete Attack In Upper Merion Township (DEVELOPING)
Seen HIM? Manhunt In Machete Attack In Upper Merion Township (Developing) Police in Upper Merion Township are on the lookout for a 56-year-old man wanted in a recent machete attack in which the victim suffered "significant" injuries, authorities said on Monday, Sept. 9. Edward Gomery is suspected in "an aggravated assault involving a machete" on another man he knew on Aug. 27, Upper Merion police said. The US Marshals Service (Philadelphia Office) is assisting in locating Gomery, police said. At about 12:15 a.m. on Aug. 27, officers were dispatched to a residence on the 200 block of New Church Road in the Swedesburg section of the township after receiving a call…
Here's Livestream For Gaudreau Brothers' PA Funeral Here's Livestream For Gaudreau Brothers' PA Funeral
Here's Livestream For Gaudreau Brothers' PA Funeral A funeral service for brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau is underway. UPDATE: John Gaudreau's Wife Announces Pregnancy With Third Baby At Funeral The Calgary Flames are streaming the Pennsylvania service. Click here for the link. The brothers were struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bicycles on Aug. 29 in New Jersey. The service began at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at  St Mary Magdalen's Church in Media, PA.  Police said that the event will cause major impacts to traffic.
Accident Or Homicide? Shooting Leaves 17-Year-Old Boy Dead In PA Accident Or Homicide? Shooting Leaves 17-Year-Old Boy Dead In PA
Accident Or Homicide? Shooting Leaves 17-Year-Old Boy Dead In PA The difficult task of ruling whether an "accidental" shooting may be a homicide is up to authorities in Luzerne County, Daily Voice was told on Friday, Sept. 6. A teenage boy was fatally wounded with a gunshot wound to his chest in Nanticoke on Sunday, Sept. 1, authorities said. The victim was identified as Hunter Sipple, 17, the following day.  The shooting with a handgun was "preliminarily accidental" pending further investigation, Nanticoke Police Chief Michael Roke told Daily Voice. "It's been a pretty whirlwind week," Roke said on Friday, Sept. 6. "We have more people coming in f…
MURDER-SUICIDE: Authorities ID Couple Shot Dead In Allentown MURDER-SUICIDE: Authorities ID Couple Shot Dead In Allentown
Murder-suicide: Authorities ID Couple Shot Dead In Allentown Authorities have identified the couple shot dead in a murder-suicide in Allentown, the Lehigh County Coroner announced on Friday, Sept. 6. Livi E. Beltran Fernandez, 44, of Allentown, was found dead of a shooting at about 1:10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5, in a home on the 2000 block of East Cedar St., according to the Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio. Her cause of death was ruled a homicide. Jesus J. Cruz Ortiz, a 53-year-old man from Easton, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot at the same address, Buglio said. His cause of death was ruled a suicide.  Autopsies were completed&…
Man Accused Of Raping 2 Girls At PA Home: DA Man Accused Of Raping 2 Girls At PA Home: DA
Man Accused Of Raping 2 Girls At PA Home: DA A 32-year-old man from Berks County has been arrested in connection with the rape of two girls at a home in Reading, one when she was 11 years old, authorities said on Friday, Sept. 6. Janson G. Paz-Ochoa of Shillington was charged with rape, rape of a child, and multiple other offenses, according to the Berks County District Attorney's Office. He was arrested on Aug. 27 and is due to reappear in court on Sept. 13, court records show. Berks County District Attorney’s detectives received a childline referral on April 12 from the state Department of Human Services which reported that a&n…
Death Penalty Sought For Woman Accused Of Killing Pittsburgh Friend's Baby, Abusing Twin Death Penalty Sought For Woman Accused Of Killing Pittsburgh Friend's Baby, Abusing Twin
Death Penalty Sought For Woman Accused Of Killing Pittsburgh Friend's Baby, Abusing Twin The death penalty is being sought against a PhD student from New Jersey who is accused of killing an infant boy and abusing his twin brother in Pennsylvania, according to court records obtained by Daily Voice on Friday, Sept. 6. Nicole Virzi, 30, a PhD student who graduated from Northern Highlands Regional High School, was charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, child endangerment, and more in connection with the incidents last June. The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty in Virzi's case on Thursday,…
$100K+ Allegedly Stolen By Former PA Attorney General Director $100K+ Allegedly Stolen By Former PA Attorney General Director
$100K+ Allegedly Stolen By Former PA Attorney General Director A McKeesport Area School District police chief, Director of the Community Violence Fund program for the McKeesport Chapter of the NAACP, and Regional Director of the PA Office of Attorney General’s Region 5 Bureau of Narcotics Investigation is accused of stealing over $100,000 drug forfeiture money and numerous over monetary thefts, the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office announced on Thursday night, Sept. 5.  Brenda D. Sawyer, 61, of North Versailles, was arrested on the following charges on Sept. 5 for her alleged crimes of taking the money which went missing from…
Federal Court Overturns Life Sentence, Murder Conviction Of PA Man Federal Court Overturns Life Sentence, Murder Conviction Of PA Man
Federal Court Overturns Life Sentence, Murder Conviction Of PA Man A man serving a life sentence following a murder conviction has had his conviction overturned, the Lebanon County District Attorney's Office announced on Thursday, Sept. 5.  Eddie Williams, 50, of Lebanon, had been convicted of murder in the first degree, robbery, and numerous related offenses on Oct. 14, 2015, the DA explained.  An order granting Williams's petition for a writ of habeas corpus was affirmed in federal court on Aug. 13, 2024, according to federal court documents obtained by Daily Voice. The case was remanded with instructions that the District Court order Williams'…
MURDER-SUICIDE: Couple Shot Dead In Allentown, Lehigh County Coroner Says MURDER-SUICIDE: Couple Shot Dead In Allentown, Lehigh County Coroner Says
Murder-suicide: Couple Shot Dead In Allentown, Lehigh County Coroner Says A murder-suicide is under investigation in Allentown, the Lehigh County Coroner announced on Thursday, Sept. 5. A 44-year-old woman from Allentown was found dead of a shooting at about 1:10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5, in a home on the 2000 block of East Cedar St., according to the Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio. Her manner of death was ruled a homicide. A 53-year-old man from Easton was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot at the same address, Buglio said. His manner of death was ruled a suicide.  "The investigation remains active and on-going, however it appears John Doe s…
Man Killed, Infant Shot In PA, Police Say (DEVELOPING) Man Killed, Infant Shot In PA, Police Say (DEVELOPING)
Man Killed, Infant Shot In PA, Police Say (Developing) A double shooting has left a 25-year-old man dead and a 1-year-old boy injured, Philadelphia police announced late on Wednesday night, Sept. 4.  Police were called to the shooting in the 3200 block of D Street, in the 25th District, at 6:21 p.m., PPD detailed in the release.  The man "was shot multiple times throughout his body," the police said. He was taken by PFD-Medic Unit to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:46 p.m. The infant suffered graze wounds to his right leg, left leg, and head, according to PPD. He was taken in a private vehicle to Nazare…
Bomb Threat On American Airlines Flight Diverts Plane From NJ To PA: Report Bomb Threat On American Airlines Flight Diverts Plane From NJ To PA: Report
Bomb Threat On American Airlines Flight Diverts Plane From NJ To PA: Report An American Airlines flight was diverted from Newark, New Jersey on its way to Dallas, Texas on Wednesday morning, Sept. 4, according to flight logs.  The flight, AA 1603, was diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport allegedly due to a bomb threat, as WPXI Channel 11 reported.  A flight attendant using the restroom supposedly spotted a "barely legible note written in pink pen on the door that said 'there’s a bomb on board,'" the outlet reported citing the FBI.  The plane left EWR at 8:06 a.m., diverting and landing at PIT at 10:15 a.m., flight logs show. The landing at …
UPMC Professor Of Pediatric Radiology Indicted For Child Porn: USDOJ UPMC Professor Of Pediatric Radiology Indicted For Child Porn: USDOJ
Upmc Professor Of Pediatric Radiology Indicted For Child Porn: Usdoj A University of Pittsburgh Doctor and Professor Of Pediatric Radiology has been indicted on child pornography charges, according to a release by the US Department Of Justice on Wednesday, Sept. 4.  Dr. Ashok Panigrahy, 53, of Pittsburgh, was caught transporting "material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor in interstate commerce, as well as possessed material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor," in Nov. 2022, as stated in the USDOJ release.  The material included images of the raping of children under the of 12 and/or prepubescent, according to federal court documents obt…
50 Years After Being Found Frozen In Pennsylvania Cave 'Pinnacle Man' Is Identified 50 Years After Being Found Frozen In Pennsylvania Cave 'Pinnacle Man' Is Identified
50 Years After Being Found Frozen In Pennsylvania Cave 'Pinnacle Man' Is Identified The body of a man found frozen in a Pennsylvania cave nearly 50 years ago has been identified, authorities said. The remains of Nicholas Paul Grubb, 27, of Fort Washington, Montgomery County, were discovered in January 1977 by two Appalachian Trail hikers who had ducked inside the cave to escape foul weather, according to the Berks County Coroner which announced the news last week. Grubb has long been known as the “Pinnacle Man,” named after the mountain peak near where his body was found. An autopsy at the time found no signs of foul play and determined that he died from a drug overdose b…
'High Risk Structure Fire' Battled At PA Paper Plant: Chief 'High Risk Structure Fire' Battled At PA Paper Plant: Chief
'High Risk Structure Fire' Battled At PA Paper Plant: Chief A two alarm fire broke out at a paper mill in York County early Wednesday morning, Sept. 4, fire officials announced later in the day. Malfunction equipment near a conveyor belt appears to have sparked the blaze at the Pixelle Pulp Wood Distribution Center located at 5689 York Road in Spring Grove, North Codorus Township at 2:20 a.m., according to Chief Carr with the North Codorus Fire Company and the York County Department of Emergency Services. Saw dust in the milling area of the plant was a major concern which led to 11 fire companies assisting at the scene, according to Carr and YC…
Popular PA Sprint Car Racer Killed In Crash: Coroner Popular PA Sprint Car Racer Killed In Crash: Coroner
Popular PA Sprint Car Racer Killed In Crash: Coroner A popular 23-year-old sprint car race is dead following a crash into a tree on Tuesday night, Sept. 3, the York County Coroner's Office announced. Kyle Craker, of the 900 block of Siddonsburg Road, in Fairview Township, was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from his vehicle after losing control in the area of Alpine Road and Boar Mooring 3 Road in Warrington Township around 7 p.m. as detailed in the coroner's release. First responders found the vehicle slammed into a tree. Craker was taken to WellSpan York Hospital where he died from his injuries at 8:30 p.m. Deputy …
3-Year-Old Ayla Miller Beaten To Death By PA Grandma Johnson: Affidavit 3-Year-Old Ayla Miller Beaten To Death By PA Grandma Johnson: Affidavit
3-Year-Old Ayla Miller Beaten To Death By PA Grandma Johnson: Affidavit A 56-year-old grandmother is accused of beating her 3-year-old granddaughter to death over Labor Day weekend, Pittsburgh Public Safety announced on Sunday, Sept. 1. Denise Johnson of Pittsburgh's North Side has been charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, aggravated assault, corruption of minors, and endangering the welfare of children, according to the police and court records.  The charges stem from an investigation by homicide detectives after her 3-year-old granddaughter Ayla Miller was found dead by other family members — including another child — in…
U-Haul Explodes In Pennsylvania: Fire Officials (PHOTOS) U-Haul Explodes In Pennsylvania: Fire Officials (PHOTOS)
U-Haul Explodes In Pennsylvania: Fire Officials (Photos) A garage and a home were damaged when a U-Haul truck exploded spraying someone's personal belongings in a Pennsylvania neighborhood, authorities announced on Monday, Sept. 2.  The explosion of the 2022 Ford F-650 U-Haul box truck happened in a driveway in Lafayette Township at 4:15 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1, authorities explained.  "The fully loaded 26-foot vehicle contained household and personal items," Lafayette Township Volunteer Fire Rescue stated in a release.  The total cost of the damage to the U-Haul is estimated at $50,000, according to police. The cost of the d…
Teen Bicyclist Struck Dead, PA State Police Say Teen Bicyclist Struck Dead, PA State Police Say
Teen Bicyclist Struck Dead, PA State Police Say A 19-year-old bicyclist from Susquehanna was struck and killed at a stop sign, authorities said. Hannah E. Shaffer died at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1 on East Main Street west of Spring Avenue in Susquehanna Depot, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The driver of the car, Todd M. Caward, 45, of Starlight was not injured or ticketed, police said. It appears that Shaffer drove through the stop sign before getting hit by the car, police said. There was an outpouring of support from friends on Facebook. Dear Hannah Shaffer when I got the news I didn’t want to believe it was t…
Pedestrian Struck In Central PA (DEVELOPING) Pedestrian Struck In Central PA (DEVELOPING)
Pedestrian Struck In Central PA (Developing) A person was struck by a vehicle in York County on Tuesday, Sept. 3, according to the York County Department of Emergency Services. The strike happened at the intersection of Red Rock Run and Pearl Drive in Penn Township around 7:30 a.m., dispatchers said. EMS was called to the scene but the extent of the pedestrian's injuries is unknown at the time of publishing. Check back here for updates.
Repeat PA Sex Offender Returned To Prison For Child Porn Charges: USDOJ Repeat PA Sex Offender Returned To Prison For Child Porn Charges: USDOJ
Repeat PA Sex Offender Returned To Prison For Child Porn Charges: Usdoj A repeat sex offender from Philadelphia has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for possessing child pornography, authorities said. Christopher Daniels, 34, also was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Juan R. Sánchez to 15 years of supervised release for repeated child pornography and related offenses, U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Daniels was charged with those violations in an August 2023 superseding indictment, and in March of this year, a federal jury convicted the defendant of all six counts against him, including receiving child pornography as a s…
PA Dad ID'd After Fatal Motorcycle Crash On I-81: State Police PA Dad ID'd After Fatal Motorcycle Crash On I-81: State Police
PA Dad ID'd After Fatal Motorcycle Crash On I-81: State Police The motorcyclist killed in a crash on Interstate 81 was identified by the Pennsylvania State Police and his family on Monday, Sept. 2. Glen "Jose" Leon Veliz, 38, of Reading, died at the scene of the crash near mile mark 82 on Interstate 81 South in East Hanover Township, Lebanon County at 5:16 p.m., on Saturday, Aug. 31, PSP Jonestown Trooper Jordan Seiler detailed in the release. Traffic was detoured at exit 85 in South Hanover Township, reopening around 9:19 p.m., according to a statement by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesperson Fritzi Schreffler and as Daily Voice previ…