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Monday, nov 4
Tag:
Lackawanna County, PA
News
PA Infant's Life Cut Short After Father Violently Shook Her, Community Rallies Around Family
A one-month-old Lackawanna County girl died after her father violently shook her. Now, the community is rallying around the family. Cecilia Rossetti suffered traumatic injuries after falling prey to Shaken Baby Syndrome, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up to benefit the family. She died on Monday, Oct. 21. Although her life was short, "Cecilia's sweet, gentle spirit has touched the hearts of many, especially her big sister Celeste, who has cherished every moment of being a big sister," the campaign states. Watching the two sisters together was their mother's greatest joy, a…
Schools
Authorities ID Custodian Found Dead Day Before School Started In Lackawanna County
An 81-year-old man found dead at an elementary school in Lackawanna County has been identified, authorities said on Friday, Sept. 6. The body of Gary Porter, 81, of Dunmore, was discovered on Aug. 27 at Dunmore Elementary Center at 300 W. Warren St. in Dunmore, Lackawanna County Coroner Timothy Rowland told Daily Voice. His death took place one day before the new school year began on Aug. 28. Rowland said he has not issued a ruling on the cause of death pending a police investigation. The custodian passed away while working the night shift at the school, Superintendent John Marichak …
News
Lackawanna County Man Is 2nd Victim Killed By Home Explosion: Coroner
A second victim has died from injuries following a home explosion in Lackawanna County, authorities said. Leon W. Gruss, 91, of Jefferson Township, was pronounced dead on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 12:38 a.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, according to Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio. The cause of death is 51% burns to the body due to the explosion and house fire, Buglio said. The explosion occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at approximately 2:15 p.m. in the 1000 Block of Mount Cobb Road in Jefferson Township. A woman who died at the scene was identified as Diane Gruss…
Police & Fire
Arsonist Set Fire At Lackawanna County Building: Investigators
A Scranton man is charged with setting a fire at the Lackawanna County government building last week, according to city police. Paul Howard Strope Jr., 35, is also charged with risking catastrophe and reckless endangerment, authorities said. The 123 Wyoming Avenue fire started around 6:30 on Tuesday, June 26, Scranton police said. A meeting was in progress in a conference room when attendees smelled smoke wafting in through the building's HVAC system, according to authorities. The building was evacuated and firefighters "conducted suppression and ventilation activities," …
Traffic
Coroner IDs Pedestrian Killed In Allentown Crash
Officials have named the 42-year-old man who was fatally struck by a car in Allentown on Tuesday, June 25. Li-Qiang Hu was hit around 10 p.m. on the 2000 block of Hamilton Street, according to city police. Authorities said they found him with "serious injuries" and rendered aid at the scene before taking him to an area hospital. Hu, of South Arlington Township in Lackawanna County, succumbed to his injuries around 2 a.m. Wednesday, June 26, said the Lehigh County Coroner's Office. His cause of death was multiple traumatic injuries and the manner was accidental. Police sai…
News
Lackawanna County Lotto Player Wins $500K Powerball Prize
A Pennsylvania Lottery player in Lackawanna County picked up half a million dollars playing the Powerball on Monday, May 20. Officials said the lucky winner matched five of the Double Play balls pulled in the Monday drawing to win $500,000. The vendor, Tobacco King at 1150 Northern Boulevard in South Abington Township, will receive a $500 bonus. Winners are not known until they claim their prize and their ticket is validated. All winners have up to one year from the drawing date to file a claim, and winning tickets should be immediately signed on the back. More tha…
Police & Fire
State Police, Feds Investigating After Police Officer Shot In Scranton (
Updated
)
More details are emerging in the Thursday, Jan. 11 shooting of a Scranton police officer. The officer and an unnamed "subject" were both shot during an "exchange of gunfire," authorities said previously. In a Thursday afternoon press conference, a state police spokesman said SPD officers were investigating a pair of shootings — one on the 400 block of Harrison Avenue and one on the 300 block of Prospect Avenue — when the gunfight broke out. Both the officer and the other person remain at Geisinger CMC in "critical but stable" condition, according to police. …
News
Pennsylvania Attorney Admits Pressuring Clients Into Sex: AG
The former Lackawanna County lawyer accused of pressuring clients into trading sexual favors for his services has pleaded guilty to the charges, prosecutors say. Former assistant district attorney Corey Kolcharno, 49, was convicted on four felony counts of promoting prostitution, said the state Attorney General's Office. He will also have to give up his license to practice law as part of his plea agreement. “The defendant preyed upon the vulnerabilities of his clients for his own sexual gratification,” said AG Michelle Henry. “Officers of the court are held to …
Police & Fire
Dozens Nabbed In PA Child Porn Sting, 'Operation Safe Screen': State Police
Twenty-six Pennsylvanians face criminal charges after state police wrapped up a months-long investigation on child sex abuse imagery. "Operation: Safe Screen," said troopers in a release on Tuesday, July 18, involved chatting with suspect predators online, locating possessors of child pornography, and tracking down registered offenders who have fallen out of compliance. The operation ran from April through June and led to the arrests of 22 adults and four juveniles in twelve counties, state police said. Those charged: Daniel Gonzales, 43, of Lackawanna County, is …
Police & Fire
Nine Pennsylvanians Stole Over $4 Million In Fine Art And Sports Memorabilia, Feds Say
It's enough to field a baseball team. Nine Pennsylvania residents are charged with taking part in a 20-year conspiracy to steal sports memorabilia and works of art from museums across the country, said the office of US Attorney Gerard Karam. The suspects, all of whom hail from Lackawanna County, conspired to steal paintings, antiques, and collectible items in a string of heists dating back to 1999 and targeting galleries and exhibitions in at least five states, prosecutors said. Stolen items listed in the indictment include: Paintings by Andy Warhol and Jackson Po…
Neighbors
Neighbors Raise $30K For Clarks Summit Men Killed In I-76 Accident
Less than 24 hours after they were identified by state police, neighbors and community members have raised a staggering $33,885 for the families of three Lackawanna County residents killed in a Philadelphia highway crash. Twins Tucker and Christian Schimelfenig, 23, their friend Michael Comerford, 24, all of Clarks Summit, and 31-year-old Jan Santana of Philadelphia were all pronounced dead at the scene when another car "swerved across lanes of travel" and hit the rear of their vehicle, sending them into a bridge pillar around 2 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, Daily Voice re…
Police & Fire
Arsonist Who Killed 81-Year-Old Bucks Man Learns Sentence
The convicted arsonist who torched a Bucks County home and killed its 81-year-old owner will spend the rest of his life behind bars, a court has ruled. Christopher Gillie, 62, of Lackawanna County, pleaded guilty in exchange for a life sentence without the possibility of parole on Tuesday, Feb. 7, said District Attorney Matthew Weintraub in a statement. The charges stemmed from the 2021 fire that killed his girlfriend's father, 81-year-old Julius Drelick, in his Buckingham Township home. First responders were called to Drelick's 5777 Private Drive residence at 3 a.m. on Dec. 5 a…
News
Winner
: Record-Breaking $2.4 Million Lotto Ticket Sold In Philadelphia
A gas station in Philadelphia made history over the weekend, according to state lottery officials. The Sunoco at 630 Walnut Lane in Manayunk sold a Pennsylvania Lottery Fat Wallet that won $2,419,372 on Saturday, Dec. 3, officials said. It's the single largest prize ever awarded for the Fast Play game in state history, they added. The previous record-breaker was purchased and played in Lackawanna County on May 28, according to lotto officials. The store will receive a $10,000 bonus check for having sold the lucky ticket, state representatives added. As a Fast …
Police & Fire
PA Delivery Driver Steals Truck Full Of Doughnuts: Report
A Pennsylvania Krispy Kreme delivery driver is accused of running off with a shipment of doughnuts, according to a report by CBS-21. Police said Robert Rebmann Jr., 40, of Lackawanna County, was supposed to deliver the sweets to a store in North Hampton on Oct. 27 but stopped answering his supervisor's phone calls and never showed up, the outlet wrote. He was arrested Oct. 28 and charged with theft, South Abington Township police reportedly said. Click here for the full story from CBS-21.
News
Fugitive With Drug Dealing Convictions In Multiple Counties Caught In Ephrata: Police
A fugitive with a criminal record going back a decade was arrested in Ephrata on Thursday, Oct. 13, police say. John Jose Figueroa, 32, of Reading, was "a fugitive from justice following an incident in Reinholds area of West Cocalico Township," police say. The details of that incident were not immediately available beyond how and where he was found. Figueroa was found sleeping behind a business in the 100 block of West Main Street, Reinholds, around 2:30 a.m., Ephrata police detailed in a release. The Adams County Sheriff's Department wanted Figueroa for failure to appea…
Police & Fire
PA Defense Attorney Pressured Clients Into Sex: AG
A 47-year-old defense attorney in Pennsylvania pressured his clients into sex and either paid them for it or used it as an exchange for payment, authorities said. Corey Kolcharno, a former assistant district attorney in Lackawanna County, is facing four felony counts of promoting prostitution for targeting four women who struggled with addiction, had a history of being sexually abused, and were financially strapped, PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Monday, Aug. 8. “Kolcharno picked these victims because they had limited choices, because he thought they would be easy to silence, and les…
News
PA Lottery Tickets Worth $100K Sold In Berks, Carbon, Lackawanna, Montgomery Counties
Pennsylvania Lottery players in Berks, Carbon, Lackawanna, and Montgomery counties have each won a $100,000 prize. The $100,000 winning tickets for the New Year's Millionaire Raffle drawing on Saturday, Jan. 8 were sold at: Sheetz, 2246 Lancaster Pike, Reading, Berks County; Turkey Hill, 200 West Catawissa St., Nesquehoning, Carbon County; Gerrity’s Supermarket, 1782 North Keyser Avenue, Scranton, Lackawanna County; GIANT Food Stores, 737 Huntingdon Pike, Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery County. The four winning ticket numbers selected were: 00087231, 00088445, 00265998, and 00470795.&n…
News
Winning Pennsylvania Lottery Ticket Worth $50K Sold In Delaware County
A winning Pennsylvania lottery ticket worth $50,000 was sold in Delaware County, One of the two $50,000 weekly drawing prizes as part of the New Year’s Millionaire Raffle was awarded to a player with the winning ticket number 00262637, state lottery officials said Monday. The ticket was sold at Rose's News and Tobacco Shoppe on South Olive Street in Media sometime between Dec 14 and Dec. 20. The second winning ticket was sold at Junior’s Convenience Store on George Street in Throop (Lackawanna County). The ticket number was 00317476. The raffle features eight weekly drawings that each a…
Police & Fire
Convicted PA Arsonist Torches Roommate's Dad's House, Killing Him: Bucks DA
A Lackawanna County man, who was convicted of arson in 2013, was charged for setting a fire at his roommate's parents' home in Bucks County, killing her elderly father inside, authorities said. Christopher G. Gillie, 61, of Dunmore, was charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated arson, recklessly endangering another person, persons not to possess firearms, and related offenses for the events that led up to the death of 81-year-old Julius Drelick, Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub said Monday. Investigators believe Gillie intentionally set fire to 5777 Private Drive i…
Police & Fire
PA Police Searching For Woman Who Screamed For Help In Disturbing 911 Call
Police in Lackawanna County are searching for a woman who they believe screamed for help in a disturbing 911 call. Taylor police spent hours on Wednesday searching for Kayla DiDonna, 23, who they believe was on the other line of the call placed around 1:30 p.m., PAHomepage.com reports. Then the phone went dead, the outlet said. DiDonna's phone pinged to a tower in the Norfolk Southern Railyards in Taylor Borough, according to PAHomepage. Local police believe DiDonna may be in danger. She is 5'5" with blue eyes and blond hair. She was last seen with a white male who …
News
Undercover PA Man Helps Catch 9 Alleged Predators Attempting To Lure Children Using Dating Apps
A group of alleged child predators were apprehended by police in connection with a scheme to meet up with minors they meet via dating apps on Tuesday, according to police. The accused, allegedly thought they were talking to children on dating apps and were trying to meet up for sex, according to police. Musa Harris, 41, who calls himself the "Luzerne County Predator Catcher,” is not a police officer, but he messages people on dating apps claiming to be underage, police say. This is something Harris, a father with a young child, has been doing full-time since March 2020, according to an …
News
Army Vet Struck Dead By Lighting While Playing Golf In Pennsylvania
Severe weather has claimed the life of a Pennsylvania man, who was struck by lightning during a round of golf. Joseph Slivinski, 71, of Lackawanna County, was struck by lightning while playing golf on Friday at Pine Hills Golf Course, according to the county coroner. Slivinski was attempting to find shelter when he was fatally injured, he died at the golf course around 1:30 p.m. A South Jersey golfer was struck and killed by lightning last month. Born in Scranton, Slivinski spent 33 years his life in Peckville with his of 44 years the late Christine M. Klonoski, according to the Times-Tri…
Police & Fire
Bucks County Teen Dies In Post Prom Crash
A Central Bucks High School East student died in a crash that occurred in the hours following the school's senior prom Saturday, authorities said. Nicholas Mannino, 18, of Pipersville, was riding in a car that lost control and overturned then struck several trees on a rural Pike County road around 1:20 a.m., the Bucks Courrier Times reports. Mannino was rushed to Geisinger Medical Center in Scranton, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 4 a.m., the outlet said citing Lackawanna County Coroner Timothy Rowland. Pennsylvania State Police were investigating.
Police & Fire
Feds: Berks Woman Sentenced To 63 Months In Prison For Methamphetamine Trafficking
A Berks County woman was sentenced Feb. 25 to 63 months behind bars for her alleged role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that operated in Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Schuylkill Counties, authorities said. Francheska Quinones, age 28, formerly of Reading, previously pled guilty and admitted to participating in a conspiracy to distribute between 500 grams and 1.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Schuylkill Counties between January 2017 and December 2018, according to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler. Adam Holcomb and William Te…
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