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Woman Killed In PA House Fire: Coroner
An 81-year-old woman has died following a house fire in the 600 block of Walnut Street in Catasauqua, Lehigh County, officials said.
The woman, identified only as Jane Doe, was pronounced dead at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at her home, according to Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio. She was found in the living room of the residence, Buglio said in a release.
An autopsy is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 20, at the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office and Forensic Center to determine the cause and manner of death. Authorities have chosen not to release the woman’s name to give her fami…
Couple Married 63 Years Killed In Crash Lands High PA Driver Homicide Charge: DA
A Harleysville man is facing homicide by vehicle charges after a DUI crash killed a beloved Hatfield Township couple who had been married for 63 years, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Hatfield Township Police Chief William J. Tierney announced Thursday, Dec. 19.
Michael Lennon, 21, was arrested following the June 8, crash at the intersection of Bergey Road and Bethlehem Pike, which left Jaime Burgos, 86, and Eva Burgos, 79, fatally injured, officials said.
The couple, who were married in 1961, were remembered for their devotion to family and their community. Jaime, a…
Dauphin County Prison Cut Heat, Power, Deprived Inmates Of Basics: Lawsuit
Dauphin County Prison officials cut heat and electricity, confiscated toilet paper, and stripped inmates of basic necessities in response to alleged drug use, according to a federal lawsuit filed on December 17, 2024. The lawsuit, brought by the Abolitionist Law Center, accuses prison staff of imposing inhumane conditions on detainees in restricted housing units (RHU) in late 2023.
Court records allege that officials punished detainees after discovering synthetic marijuana, allegedly smuggled in by prison staff. Instead of addressing internal misconduct, officials targeted incarcerated indiv…
Shots Fired At Police Officer Lands Reading Man Homicide Attempt Charge: Berks DA
A 22-year-old man was arrested after allegedly firing multiple gunshots at police officers during a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle, the Berks County District Attorney's office announced on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
The incident began when officers spotted a stolen Toyota Camry on Cotton Street around 8:01 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 17, as detailed in the DA's release. When they attempted a traffic stop, the driver, later identified as Davius Manuel Ortiz, fled on foot, leading police through alleys and backyards.
During the chase, Ortiz reportedly fired at least seven shots at officers and nearby …
Aviation Enthusiast Killed, Three Seriously Injured In Fiery I-80 Crash In PA
A New Jersey man was killed, and three passengers — his wife, son, and his son's girlfriend — were critically injured when a car lost control and was struck by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 80 in Tobyhanna Township, PA, Pennsylvania State Police announced in a press release on Monday, Dec. 16.
The crash happened at mile marker 286.6 westbound around 8:39 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, during hazardous road conditions, troopers said.
Vladimir Kevereski, 58, of Elmwood Park, NJ, was driving a 2018 Honda Civic westbound when he lost control on the slippery roadway. The car s…
2nd Suspect Arrested In Murder Of Lower Merion Man During Home Invasion
Kelvin Roberts, 42, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the fatal Lower Merion home invasion that left Andrew Gaudio dead and his mother, Bernadette Gaudio, critically injured, Montgomery County officials announced on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
Roberts, of Philadelphia, was taken into custody by Upper Moreland Police after arriving at his workplace, Junkluggers in Willow Grove. He was in possession of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun at the time of his arrest, authorities said.
Roberts and his co-defendant, Charles Fulforth, 41, are accused of carrying out the violen…
PA Mom Justified In Fatal Shooting Of Son During Break-In: DA
A Berks County woman who shot and killed her son after he broke into her home acted in self-defense, authorities announced on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
Sean M. Clemens, 32, of Myerstown, was shot multiple times by his 64-year-old mother during a confrontation at her residence on Little Mountain Road in Bethel Township, Berks County, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, according to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.
The incident began around 7:50 a.m. when the woman called 911 to report that she had shot her son after he forcibly entered her home, officials said.
Investigators said Clemens, who had a h…
Engaged Couple Killed In Double-Fatal Hit-Run Crash By PA Man On THC: DA
An engaged couple, both parents and expecting a grandchild, were struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash while an Allentown driver was high on marijuana, authorities announced on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
Imanol Caraballo, 23, is charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, and other related offenses for the crash that killed Christopher Stocker, 44, and Luz Daneza Ruiz Acosta, 43, both of Allentown.
The crash happened around 1:15 a.m. on Dec. 10, 2023, in the 300 block of Hamilton Street, where Caraballo fled after striking the pair, police said.
A silver sedan with a smashed…
Six Members Of PA/NJ Catalytic Converter Theft Ring Sentenced: DAac
Six members of a multi-million-dollar catalytic converter theft ring that spanned the Delaware Valley have been sentenced, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office announced on Monday, Dec. 16.
The defendants included Michael Williams, the 53-year-old owner of TDI Towing in Philadelphia, his three sons-in-law Michael Bruce, Kevin Schwartz, and Patrick Hopkins, his wife Deborah Davalos, and her sister Lisa Davalos.
Williams, of Huntingdon Valley, was sentenced to 2 ½ to 5 years in state prison, followed by two years of probation, and was ordered to pay $124,900 in restitution to 157 vic…
Inmate Found Unresponsive At Lehigh County Jail Dies: Investigation Underway
A Lehigh County Jail inmate was found unresponsive in his cell on Saturday, Dec. 14, and later pronounced dead, authorities said.
Linwood Jones, 62, was discovered unresponsive in his cell at the Allentown facility around 4:20 p.m., according to the Lehigh County Department of Corrections. Staff immediately declared a medical emergency and began CPR before EMS arrived and took over, Director of Corrections Janine Donate said.
Jones was transported to St. Luke's Hospital-Allentown by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead at 5:20 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15, officials said.
Jones had been admi…
Hit-Run Driver Who Killed Dad Of 3, Bicyclist Sentenced: Lehigh County DA
A driver who fled the scene after fatally striking a bicyclist in Lower Macungie Township will spend up to 17 years in prison, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced on Monday, Dec. 16.
Anthony Michael Rutch, 51, pleaded guilty on Nov. 4, 2024, to accidents involving death or personal injury and homicide by vehicle, prosecutors said.
At a hearing on Dec. 13, 2024, Lehigh County Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks sentenced Rutch to 4 to 17 years in state prison for the death of 36-year-old Alexander Zarnas, authorities said.
The crash happened on March 9, 2021, at 5:06 p.m. on …
PA Turnpike RV Explosion Victim ID’d: Coroner
The woman injured after a propane explosion destroyed a recreational vehicle and damaged property at the Blue Mountain Service Plaza on the Pennsylvania Turnpike has died and been, authorities announced on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Melinda VanNewkirk, 68, of Milton, Delaware, was pronounced dead at 1:36 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, according to the Cumberland County Coroner's Office. Her cause of death was listed as complications from burns covering 35% to 37% of her body. The manner of death was ruled accidental.
The explosion occurred at 4:55 a.m. on T…
$12M Medicaid Fraud Scheme By PA Home Health Care Agency Lands 20 People Charges: AG
The owner of a Bala Cynwyd-based home care agency, her daughter, and 18 others have been charged in a multi-million dollar Medicaid fraud scheme, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced on Friday, Dec. 13.
Stephanie Mobley, 52, owned ComfortZone Home Health Care, LLC, a Medicaid-approved provider based in Bala Cynwyd. She, her second-in-command daughter, Naya Campbell, 29, of Audubon, and 18 others allegedly defrauded the Medicaid program by filing false reimbursement claims for services never provided, according to court documents.
All 20 defendants face charges including …
