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Lancaster County, PA

Man Who Posed As Teen, Exploiting Children Sentenced: Lancaster County DA Man Who Posed As Teen, Exploiting Children Sentenced: Lancaster County DA
Man Who Posed As Teen, Exploiting Children Sentenced: Lancaster County DA A Lancaster County man has been sentenced to 2.5 to 10 years in state prison after admitting to sexually exploiting juveniles online and stockpiling an enormous collection of child pornography, the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office announced Friday, Dec. 20. Kenneth Lee Schmidt, 46, of East Earl Township, pleaded guilty to 49 felony charges, including possession and dissemination of child pornography, solicitation of minors, and corruption of minors, prosecutors said. Schmidt’s state sentence will run concurrently with the 35-year federal sentence he is already serving for related…
Lititz Dad Stabbed In Neck By Son, DA's Office Says Lititz Dad Stabbed In Neck By Son, DA's Office Says
Lititz Dad Stabbed In Neck By Son, DA's Office Says A West Lampeter Township man accused of stabbing his father in the neck, causing life-threatening injuries, waived his preliminary hearing this week, the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office said. Russell Woodrow Adams-Nicholls, 44, of the 300 block of Crestline Drive, is charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault for attacking his 80-year-old father at a Lititz residence, investigators announced. The violent incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at a home in the 600 block of Chatham Way. The victim suffered a single stab wound to the neck, resulting in signif…
PA Man ID'd In 12-Year Cold Case Through Genetic Genealogy: Coroner PA Man ID'd In 12-Year Cold Case Through Genetic Genealogy: Coroner
PA Man ID'd In 12-Year Cold Case Through Genetic Genealogy: Coroner The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office has identified skeletal remains discovered in a wooded area of West Donegal Township in 2012 as Mitchell L. Mendelson of Elizabethtown, officials announced. The remains were found by a hunter on November 1, 2012, near Cemetery Road, according to a release from the coroner's office. Mendelson, 60, had retired from Red Rose Transit Authority in Lancaster and moved to Elizabethtown in 2011. The identification was made through genetic genealogy and mitochondrial DNA analysis, a breakthrough that came more than a decade after the remains were recovered. F…
Box Truck Erupts In Flames On Route 30 Split In Lancaster County Box Truck Erupts In Flames On Route 30 Split In Lancaster County
Box Truck Erupts In Flames On Route 30 Split In Lancaster County  A box truck burst into flames at the Route 30 and Route 283 split in Lancaster County, authorities announced on Wednesday morning, Dec. 11. The fire broke out on Route 30 Westbound as it splits into Route 283 Westbound in Manheim Township around 9 a.m., according to Lancaster County Wide Communications. Fire crews swiftly responded and were able to extinguish the flames, officials said. No injuries were reported, dispatch confirmed. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Elizabethtown Man Dies In Mount Joy After Single-Vehicle Crash: Coroner Elizabethtown Man Dies In Mount Joy After Single-Vehicle Crash: Coroner
Elizabethtown Man Dies In Mount Joy After Single-Vehicle Crash: Coroner A 77-year-old Elizabethtown man died following a single-vehicle crash in Mount Joy Township, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office announced on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Ronald Book was found deceased in the driver’s seat of a vehicle at 12:58 p.m. along Bellaire Road, according to the coroner's office. The car was discovered on a rocky area off the side of the road with minimal damage. A coroner investigator pronounced Book dead at the scene, the office said. A physical examination revealed no signs of trauma, and an autopsy performed the following day determined the cause of death to be  Ath…
AI-Generated Child Porn Leads To Charges Against 2 PA Teens AI-Generated Child Porn Leads To Charges Against 2 PA Teens
Ai-generated Child Porn Leads To Charges Against 2 PA Teens Two male juveniles face charges for creating and distributing AI-generated pornographic images of Lancaster Country Day School students, Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams announced on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. The pair is accused of altering hundreds of photos of classmates and acquaintances using artificial intelligence tools to create explicit images. A total of 60 female victims have been identified—48 of whom are students at the school. Fifty-nine victims are minors, and one is over the age of 18, authorities said. **AI-Generated Images Lead To Juvenile Charges** Both juve…
PA Woman Who Murdered Grandmother Over Hamburger Sentenced: DA PA Woman Who Murdered Grandmother Over Hamburger Sentenced: DA
PA Woman Who Murdered Grandmother Over Hamburger Sentenced: DA A Pequea Township woman who pleaded guilty but mentally ill to involuntary manslaughter for killing her grandmother in 2023 has been sentenced, Lancaster County authorities announced on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2024. Shasta Marie Sigman, 25, of the first block of West Boehms Road, was sentenced to five years of probation, with the first six months to be served in Lancaster County Prison, according to Judge David Ashworth. After her release, Sigman will be transferred to a residential mental health treatment facility in Armstrong County. Sigman admitted to pushing her 82-year-old grandmother during …
Woman Struck By Vehicle At Busy Lancaster County Intersection Woman Struck By Vehicle At Busy Lancaster County Intersection
Woman Struck By Vehicle At Busy Lancaster County Intersection A woman was injured after being hit by a vehicle at a busy intersection in Lancaster County on Tuesday morning, Dec. 3, emergency dispatchers said. The pedestrian was struck at Route 896 and Lincoln Highway East/Route 30 in East Lampeter Township around 8:15 a.m., authorities said. She was transported to a hospital for treatment. Her condition was not immediately available. Police remained at the scene as of late Tuesday morning. East Lampeter Township police are investigating the crash. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Felon Mom With ‘Love Yourself First’ Tattoo Sentenced For Drowning 5-Year-Old In Susquehanna Felon Mom With ‘Love Yourself First’ Tattoo Sentenced For Drowning 5-Year-Old In Susquehanna
Felon Mom With ‘Love Yourself First’ Tattoo Sentenced For Drowning 5-Year-Old In Susquehanna A Lancaster County mother has been sentenced after pleading no contest to charges related to the drowning death of her 5-year-old son in the Susquehanna River, authorities confirmed to Daily Voice on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. Autumn Lynn Vossler, 31, of Columbia, pleaded Nolo Contendere on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 — the day after her — to involuntary manslaughter and four counts of endangering the welfare of children, according to Susquehanna Regional Police and court records.  For the drowning, Vossler was sentenced to a prison term ranging from nearly five to nine and a half years on Thu…
3 Men Arrested For Firing Shots Into Columbia Home, Endangering Lives: Police 3 Men Arrested For Firing Shots Into Columbia Home, Endangering Lives: Police
3 Men Arrested For Firing Shots Into Columbia Home, Endangering Lives: Police Three men were arrested for their involvement in a shooting that endangered multiple lives in Columbia, Lancaster County, on Nov. 1, 2024, police announced Tuesday, Nov. 26. J'Vian Lazae Mendez-Gonzalez, 18, Isaiah Jose Diaz, 20, and Caelan Natrell Brown, 19, are accused of firing shots into an occupied structure on the 400 block of Avenue K at approximately 1:37 p.m., according to the Columbia Borough Police Department. Each suspect is charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Discharge of a Firearm into an Occupied Structure, Possession of a Weapon, and four counts of Reckless…
PA Doctor Accused Of Exploiting 13-Year-Old Girl, Possessing Child Pornography PA Doctor Accused Of Exploiting 13-Year-Old Girl, Possessing Child Pornography
PA Doctor Accused Of Exploiting 13-Year-Old Girl, Possessing Child Pornography ** Warning: The following details may be disturbing to some readers. ** A former Lancaster County family medicine physician is facing felony charges for sexually exploiting a 13-year-old girl and possessing child pornography, according to police, public records, and court documents. Frank Yang Liu, 33, of Manheim, was charged after an investigation by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department (NLCRPD), and Lancaster County detectives. Authorities allege Liu used Instagram to exchange explicit messages and images …
Crash That Killed UPMC Nurse Lands DUI Driver Homicide Charges: DA Crash That Killed UPMC Nurse Lands DUI Driver Homicide Charges: DA
Crash That Killed Upmc Nurse Lands DUI Driver Homicide Charges: DA A Danville man has been charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence for a crash that killed 33-year-old UPMC nurse Karra Kate Clevenger, who was ejected from his vehicle and struck multiple times on PA Route 283 in September, authorities announced on Monday, Nov. 25. Apar Shirishkumar Patel, 36, was charged with Homicide By Vehicle While DUI, Homicide By Vehicle, two counts of Driving Under the Influence, and four Summary Traffic Offenses, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office. Patel was arraigned before Judge Brian Chudzik on Friday, Nov. 25, w…
CEO Of Reading Company Charged With DUI After Stop On Route 222 CEO Of Reading Company Charged With DUI After Stop On Route 222
CEO Of Reading Company Charged With DUI After Stop On Route 222 The CEO of Optimum Controls Corporation has been charged with driving under the influence after a traffic stop in Lancaster County, police announced on Saturday, Nov. 23. Michael Galiyano, 76, of Sinking Spring, was pulled over near mile marker 47 on Route 222 North in Denver at approximately 9:38 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, according to East Cocalico Township Police. Officers reported that Galiyano appeared impaired, and a breath test revealed a blood alcohol concentration of .187%, more than double the legal limit of .08%. Galiyano leads Optimum Controls Corporation, a Reading-based company t…
Lancaster Native With Lengthy Criminal History Found Dead In SCI Houtzdale Prison Cell Lancaster Native With Lengthy Criminal History Found Dead In SCI Houtzdale Prison Cell
Lancaster Native With Lengthy Criminal History Found Dead In SCI Houtzdale Prison Cell An inmate at the State Correctional Institution at Houtzdale was found dead in his cell, officials announced on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2024. Lance Heverly, 39, was discovered unresponsive in his cell. Prison staff immediately began life-saving measures until emergency medical personnel arrived, but Heverly was pronounced deceased at 1:35 p.m., according to SCI Houtzdale Superintendent David Close. Heverly had been serving a five- to 10-year sentence for aggravated assault with serious bodily injury on a Lancaster County conviction. He was incarcerated at SCI Houtzdale on Feb. 9, 2022. Heverly…
Dennis Allen, 75, Dies After Crash In Colerain Township: PA State Police Dennis Allen, 75, Dies After Crash In Colerain Township: PA State Police
Dennis Allen, 75, Dies After Crash In Colerain Township: PA State Police A 75-year-old man has died following a crash in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania State Police announced on Friday, Nov. 22. Dennis J. Allen, of Quarryville, was driving a car when he approached a stop sign at the intersection of Kirkwood Pike/Route 472 and Stuart Run Road in Colerain Township on Monday, Nov. 11 at 7:31 a.m., according to police. Allen attempted to turn left onto Kirkwood Pike/Route 472 but failed to yield the right of way to another car traveling down the road, police said in a release. The second car tried to brake but couldn’t stop in time, leading to the collision. Allen…
‘Tommy Louboutin’ Sentenced To Prison For Assaulting Woman After Lying About Identity ‘Tommy Louboutin’ Sentenced To Prison For Assaulting Woman After Lying About Identity
‘Tommy Louboutin’ Sentenced To Prison For Assaulting Woman After Lying About Identity A Philadelphia man who introduced himself as “Tommy Louboutin” to a woman he later assaulted is now swapping designer pseudonyms for a state prison jumpsuit, authorities announced on Monday, Nov. 20. Nhan H. Nguyen, 30, was sentenced to 22 months to five years in prison after pleading guilty to felony aggravated indecent assault without consent and misdemeanor indecent assault without consent, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office. The assault occurred on Aug. 4, 2023, after Nguyen met the victim and lied about his name. Later that night, he climbed into her bed uninv…
Homeland Security Investigation Leads To $294K Cocaine Bust In PA Homeland Security Investigation Leads To $294K Cocaine Bust In PA
Homeland Security Investigation Leads To $294K Cocaine Bust In PA A joint investigation with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led to the arrest of a Columbia man and the seizure of more than $294,000 worth of cocaine and marijuana, the Lancaster County Drug Task Force announced on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Roderick Gonzalez-Perez, of the 800 block of Blunston Street, was arrested on Oct. 4 after authorities intercepted a package containing over five kilograms of cocaine en route to his home from Puerto Rico. The package, addressed to “Senior Perez,” was flagged during transit, prompting a collaborative investigation by the Drug Task Force and HSI. Af…
13-Year-Old Girl Raped By PA Registered Megan’s Law Sex Offender: Affidavit 13-Year-Old Girl Raped By PA Registered Megan’s Law Sex Offender: Affidavit
13-Year-Old Girl Raped By PA Registered Megan’s Law Sex Offender: Affidavit An Ephrata man, already a lifetime Megan’s Law registrant, is facing charges for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl, subjecting her to repeated abuse over the past two years, according to the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department on Wednesday, Nov. 20, and an affidavit of probable cause obtained by Daily Voice. Michael Christopher Pringle, 60, was arrested after the victim disclosed the assault to her school counselor on Oct. 7. The incident occurred the evening before at a home in Clay Township. **WARNING THE FOLLOWING DETAILS ARE DISTURBING** Allegations From The Affidavit…
PA Mom Charged For Giving Kids Guns, Teen Son Charged In Cousin's Murder PA Mom Charged For Giving Kids Guns, Teen Son Charged In Cousin's Murder
PA Mom Charged For Giving Kids Guns, Teen Son Charged In Cousin's Murder A Lancaster County mother is accused of giving her teenage sons access to guns used in a September shootout, police announced on Friday, Nov. 15. One of those sons has also been charged in his cousin's murder.  Brandi Whisman, 42, of New Providence, was arraigned Tuesday, Nov. 14, on charges of endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors. Investigators said she gave her sons permission to take the guns whenever they wanted, providing a key and telling them where the firearms were located. Her sons, Joshua Whisman, 16, and Alexander Whisman, 18, are accused of firing …
Elizabethtown Man's Death Ruled Homicide After Fatal Shooting By Police: Lancaster Coroner Elizabethtown Man's Death Ruled Homicide After Fatal Shooting By Police: Lancaster Coroner
Elizabethtown Man's Death Ruled Homicide After Fatal Shooting By Police: Lancaster Coroner A man arrested for allegedly driving under the influence returned with a handgun to the police station and ended up being shot dead by an officer, authorities detailed in an updated release on Tuesday night, Nov. 12.  Andrew Ward, 39, of Elizabethtown has been identified as the man police fatally shot outside the Northwest Regional Police Station on Elizabethtown Road at at 1:43 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, according to the DA's updated release and as Daily Voice previously reported.  His cause of death was "gunshot wounds to the body" and the manner was ruled "homicide" by t…
Amish Cheese Factory Catches Fire In PA (DEVELOPING) Amish Cheese Factory Catches Fire In PA (DEVELOPING)
Amish Cheese Factory Catches Fire In PA (Developing) An Amish-owned cheese factory in Lancaster County caught fire on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 13, according to Lancaster County Wide Communications. Emergency crews were called to the scene at Oak Shade Cheese factory in Kirkwood, Little Britain Township around 3 p.m., dispatchers at LCWC detailed. Although smoke with the only thing reported, more than 20 fire crews responded to the scene. At least one building was evacuated, according to dispatchers.  Time out 15:01 - Commercial Building Fire Engine 89-3 W/6, Tanker 89 W/2, Engine 89-1 W/6, Engine 89-2 W/4 and Squad 89... Posted b…
Man’s Prosthetic Leg Causes High-Speed Crash Off PA Route 322: Police Man’s Prosthetic Leg Causes High-Speed Crash Off PA Route 322: Police
Man’s Prosthetic Leg Causes High-Speed Crash Off PA Route 322: Police A Stevens man’s prosthetic leg reportedly got stuck on the gas pedal, leading to a high-speed crash off Route 322 in Lancaster County, authorities announced Tuesday, Nov. 12. John Steffy was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox eastbound on State Route 322 near Sharp Avenue in Clay Township when his prosthetic leg became lodged on the accelerator while turning south onto Sharp Avenue, the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department detailed in the news release. Steffy’s vehicle struck a 2025 Chevrolet Trax driven by Eileen Sprague of Ephrata, police said. The impact caused damage to Sp…
PA Son Who 'Chose Drugs' Killing Mom For Her Purse Sentenced Up To 80 Years PA Son Who 'Chose Drugs' Killing Mom For Her Purse Sentenced Up To 80 Years
PA Son Who 'Chose Drugs' Killing Mom For Her Purse Sentenced Up To 80 Years An Adamstown man who confessed to killing his mother in a dispute over her purse and fleeing in her car has been sentenced to 35 to 80 years in state prison, Lancaster County officials announced on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Zachary Thomas Gift, 28, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, robbery, two counts of strangulation, and theft by unlawful taking in connection with the March 19, 2023, death of his mother, Lois Gift, 62. Investigators say Gift strangled and smothered Lois in their home on Grant Road in Adamstown around 11 p.m. that night after an argument escalated. According to police, he stol…
Repeat Sex Offender Convicted Of Raping Another Child In Pennsylvania: DA Repeat Sex Offender Convicted Of Raping Another Child In Pennsylvania: DA
Repeat Sex Offender Convicted Of Raping Another Child In Pennsylvania: DA A repeat sex offender has been convicted of raping yet another child, the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office announced on Tuesday, Nov. 12.  Dennis "Denny" Eugene Meyer Jr., 47, of Harrisburg, was found guilty of felon Rape of a Child, felon Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse with a Child, felon Aggravated Indecent Assault of a Child, felon Unlawful Contact with a Minor, felon Sexual Assault, and misdemeanor Indecent Assault following a jury trial on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, according to the DA. The charges were brought after a 12-year-old girl told a friend’s mother that "…
Felon On PCP Crashes Into Home, Attempts Break-In To PA Home: Police Felon On PCP Crashes Into Home, Attempts Break-In To PA Home: Police
Felon On PCP Crashes Into Home, Attempts Break-In To PA Home: Police A convicted felon allegedly high on PCP, crashed into an occupied home before trying to break into another residence, Manheim Township police announced on Monday, Nov. 11. Felix Daniel Ortiz Jr., 42, was arrested after officers found him fleeing the crash scene and later admitted to hallucinating from drug use, police said. Felix Daniel Ortiz Jr., 42, was charged with DUI-Controlled Substance, Criminal Trespass, DUS-DUI Related, Accident-Damage Attended, Reckless Driving, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, and other offenses. The incident unfolded on Nov. 4 in the 400 block of Atkins Avenue. Of…
2 Injured In Tractor-Trailer Hauling Honey Flips On Route 222 In South Central PA 2 Injured In Tractor-Trailer Hauling Honey Flips On Route 222 In South Central PA
2 Injured In Tractor-Trailer Hauling Honey Flips On Route 222 In South Central PA A crash involving a tractor-trailer hauling honey closed Route 222 southbound in Lancaster County, disrupting morning commutes and injuring at least two people, authorities announced early Monday, Nov. 12. The accident happened in the southbound lanes of Route 222 in Brecknock Township, between the Adamstown exit and the Pennsylvania Turnpike at approximately 4:25 a.m., according to dispatchers and fire officials. A tractor-trailer collided with a car, flipping onto the smaller vehicle, photos from the scene show and dispatchers confirmed. Two people were transported to the hospit…
Car Flips Over Inside Covered Bridge In PA: Fire Officials (PHOTOS) Car Flips Over Inside Covered Bridge In PA: Fire Officials (PHOTOS)
Car Flips Over Inside Covered Bridge In PA: Fire Officials (Photos) A car crash inside a covered bridge in Lancaster County late Friday night, Nov. 8, officials announced the following day.  Upper Leacock Fire Company reported that the crash happened shortly after 11 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9.  Fire crews were dispatched after receiving reports of a vehicle accident involving a car flipped onto its side within a bridge in Upper Leacock Township. When emergency units arrived, all occupants of the car were already outside the vehicle. Firefighters provided lighting and assisted with clearing debris once the car was removed from the bridge, authoriti…
Hearing On Challenged Provisional Ballots In Lancaster Scheduled: Officials Hearing On Challenged Provisional Ballots In Lancaster Scheduled: Officials
Hearing On Challenged Provisional Ballots In Lancaster Scheduled: Officials After numerous challenges to provisional ballots in Lancaster County officials have scheduled a hearing according to a news release on Friday, Nov. 8. "The Lancaster County Board of Elections has voted to convene the canvas of mail in and provisional ballots," the release states. The hearing to conduct the canvas and review the challenges will take place in the Commissioners Meeting Room located at 150 North Queen Street, Suite 701 in Lancaster on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 11 a.m., as detailed in the release. Additional information was not available. Check back here for possible updates.
Here's A County-By-County Breakdown Of Who PA Chose In Presidential Race Here's A County-By-County Breakdown Of Who PA Chose In Presidential Race
Here's A County-By-County Breakdown Of Who PA Chose In Presidential Race For the second straight presidential election, Pennsylvania voters helped a candidate narrowly win the state, with Republican candidate Donald Trump edging out Vice President Kamala Harris in the most recent race.  Trump received 50.51% of the vote (3,457,446 votes) statewide, coming in just ahead of Harris who had 48.53% (3,322,052 votes), according to unofficial results from the Department of State posted on Wednesday, Nov. 6. In 2020, the numbers were similar but with Joe Biden on the winner's side, according to previous reporting by Daily Voice. Four years ago, Biden had 50.01% of …
Woman Stabbed To Death In Lancaster ID'd By Coroner (UPDATE) Woman Stabbed To Death In Lancaster ID'd By Coroner (UPDATE)
Woman Stabbed To Death In Lancaster ID'd By Coroner (Update) A woman is dead following a triple stabbing in Lancaster County, the coroner announced on Monday, Nov. 4.  Carmen Martinez-Silva, 50, was found dead in the yard of her home in the 2900 block of Dell Lane, according to the coroner's release. First responders were called to the home located near Travelo Drive in East Hempfield Township at 1:40 p.m., according to LCWC dispatch logs. "EMS transported two individuals to Lancaster General Hospital for lacerations. A third victim succumbed to their injuries on scene," the East Hempfield Township police wrote in a release shortly before 6 p.…
Cause, Manner Of Death Released For PA Fire Police Captain: Coroner Cause, Manner Of Death Released For PA Fire Police Captain: Coroner
Cause, Manner Of Death Released For PA Fire Police Captain: Coroner A Fire Police captain who has been missing since Thursday afternoon, Oct. 17 was found dead over the weekend, details were released by the Lancaster County Coroner's Office on Monday, Nov. 4. Tony  Bortner, 51, of Windsor's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head and the manner was suicide, the coroner explained in the updated release. The Laurel Fire Company in Windsor Fire Police Captain's red 2008 Subaru Forester with the PA license plate "LKX9294" was found at Lock 12 in Lower Chanceford Township by State Troopers on Saturday, Oct. 19, Pennsylvania State Police previous…