Find Your Daily Voice
50°
Engaged Couple Killed In Double-Fatal Hit-Run Crash By Man On THC: Lehigh County 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 …
Fatal Carjacking Of US Army Vet, Mom Leads To Murder Charges In Philadelphia
A mom and US Army veteran was killed during a carjacking in Philadelphia, and a 21-year-old man has been charged in connection with the incident, police announced on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Tysean Forsythe, of the 800 block of North 20th Street, is facing multiple charges, including Murder, Carjacking, and Conspiracy, in connection with the death of 47-year-old Heather Rainey on Saturday, June 22, according to police.
The incident unfolded at approximately 10:39 p.m. when 26th District Officers responded to a report of a “Person with a Gun” on the 700 block of West Poplar Street, authorities sai…
Oxford Teen Reported Missing After Not Returning From School Bus: Police
A 16-year-old girl from Oxford Borough has been reported missing after she failed to return home from school on Wednesday, Dec. 6, authorities announced.
Wendy Azuceli Ester XoTec was last seen after attending classes at Collegium Charter School, located at 456 Creamery Way, Exton, Pennsylvania, police said in a release on Thursday, Dec. 12.
XoTec, who was born in Guatemala, was confirmed present at school that morning, but she did not board the afternoon bus home, according to the Oxford Borough Police Department.
She was last seen wearing her school uniform, described as a navy-blue …
Man Arrested, Another At Large In Fatal PA Home Invasion: DA
A second suspect has been charged in a deadly home invasion in Lower Merion that left a man dead and his mother fighting for her life, Montgomery County authorities announced Thursday, Dec. 12.
Charles Fulforth, 41, of Jenkintown, was arrested for second-degree murder, robbery, and burglary after detectives linked him to the Dec. 8 attack that claimed the life of 25-year-old Andrew Gaudio and critically injured his mother, 61-year-old Bernadette Gaudio.
Fulforth, a Junkluggers employee, worked with Kelvin Roberts, 42, of Philadelphia, who remains at large, police say. Roberts was charged ea…
Levittown Man Fatally Struck After Crash On I-95: PA State Police
A driver was killed after being struck by multiple vehicles, including a hit-and-run driver, following a crash on I-95 Southbound in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania State Police announced on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Peter Sorochinski, of Levittown, Bucks County, was identified as the victim of the tragic incident, which began around 8:57 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Sorochinski had been driving southbound on I-95 near the Market Street on-ramp when he crashed his vehicle into the impact attenuator on the left side of the roadway, authorities said.
His car then crossed two lanes of traffic and struck the …
Homicide Charge Lodged Against PA Strip Club Shooter (Update)
A New Jersey man previously charged in a shooting at a Morrisville gentlemen’s club is now facing a homicide charge after the victim died from his injuries, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Pedro E. Rodriguez, 28, of Trenton, NJ, is accused of fatally shooting Mekhi Norman, 28, at The Border Gentlemen’s Club at 440 S. Pennsylvania Ave. on Thursday, Aug. 29, authorities said.
Norman, an innocent bystander, was struck in the head, thigh, and torso while trying to assist staff during an altercation at the club’s doorway around 1:15 a.m., police sai…
