Thirty-five-year-old Justo Smoker faced charges connected to her homicide even though police had not yet found her body. And thats really random, and its kinda freaky.. Pennsylvania State Police said they are investigating the homicide of a York County man found dead in Lancaster County.Edgardo Bermudez-Melendez, 31, of West York, died of gunshot wounds . Christy Mirack with her brother and mother The District Attorney, Craig Stedman, described the murder as an "absolute, remorseless horror" committed by a "deviant and a coward. Pennsylvania State Police said they are investigating the homicide of a York County man found dead in Lancaster County. His vehicle has not been located. Click here to learn more about the role the Lancaster County Local Journalism Fund plays in Lancaster County and to make a tax-deductible donation. Please enable JavaScript to properly view our site. The Lancaster County coroner is planning on doing an autopsy on the body this Friday or Monday. Weve been reviewing our records to see if we have anyone that may match or come close to a description so we can check on their welfare, Eachus said. The descriptions of the driver and vehicle were consistent with Smoker and his red Kia, according to authorities. The victim was described only as a man in his 40s. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (CBS) -- We're now hearing from the grieving family of Amish teenager Linda Stoltzfoos after authorities announced Thursday her body has been found. Donald Meshey Jr. told investigators he stabbed a "cadaver doll" that looked and sounded . Smoker's DNA was detected on Stoltzfoos' clothing, according to prosecutors. One of the main questions they want to answer is who the person was. A Pennsylvania man led cops to his father's severed head that he kept on a dinner plate in a freezer, police said. The death investigation has preliminarily been ruled as a non-criminal related incident, according to a police update on Tuesday afternoon. A 39-year-old kidnapped a mother and a child separately and raped them at a local hotel then killed the daughter and tried to hide her in the mother's freezer, authorities announced on Friday, Feb. 10 just a few hours after the girl's body was found in the home. Click here to follow Daily Voice Lancaster and receive free news updates. This investigation remains very active with work ongoing by multiple agencies.The bodies of two individuals were found Tuesday morning at a location on Charlestown Road in Manor Township.The two bodies were found in a . Additional charges may be filed pending the results of an autopsy and further investigation. "Our hearts go out to the family," Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams said. Officials have said that "DNA attributable to Smoker" was found on one of the buried stockings. He is still at large and should be considered armed and dangerous, according to the DA. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Published: Jul. In 2018, the Lancaster County Drug Task force was in a dire position. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Support local journalism. N. EAST LAMPETER TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM) On Wednesday morning around 9 a.m. East Lampeter Township Police got a call from an employee of a nearby business about finding human remains. The Team At Daily Voice Wants. A York County man who had been missing for a week was found shot to death near a Martic Township road Saturday morning, according to state police. Pa. woman missing since 1992 found alive in Puerto Rico. Though authorities have yet to make an official identification, Stolzfoos' family confirmed to CBS 21 that the human remains discovered by police do belong to the missing teen. When police finally stormed the building, they found Mitchell's body; he had committed suicide with his shotgun. Lancaster city police recovered a total of five handguns, several of them stolen, during four different incidents over the weekend. LANCASTER, Texas (KBTX) - Authorities on Monday confirmed a Bryan man who has been missing since May was found recently deceased in the . His manner of death was ruled a homicide. Prosecutors say Stoltzfoos was kidnapped on June 21, 2020, while walking home from church. If anyone in the viewing public would have been missing a friend or a family member that they havent seen in the past couple weeks, to please check on them. Christopher Tallarico, the countys chief public defender, argued in March there was no proof that Stoltzfoos had ever gotten into Smokers car, and he elicited testimony that her DNA wasnt found on samples taken from the car, The Associated Press reported. The gruesome discovery was made in a warehouse . The 18-year-old has been missing since June 2020, and a man has previously been charged with criminal homicide. This is a list of familicides that occurred in the United States.Being part of the list of rampage killers, the latter's terms of inclusion are also applied here.. A rampage killer has been defined as follows: A rampage involves the (attempted) killing of multiple persons least partly in public space by a single physically present perpetrator using (potentially) deadly weapons in a single . Lancaster County funeral director Andrew Scheid is heading to trial on charges of tampering with public records and abuse of a corpse. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. lancaster puppies phone number The Saturn person could stir up fears within the house person that they'd rather not face or deal with. "It is . Details on the man's death have not been released, but police believe this is an isolated incident, and there is no threat to the public. East Lampeter Township Detective Christopher Jones said DNA profiles recovered were insufficient to test. Human remains were discovered in a rural area of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in a search for the 18-year-old, the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday. Rapho Twp, Those crimes were believed to have happened between December 2019 and January 2020 in the 300 block of Blue Rock Road, according to court records. Alex Murdaugh found guilty in double murder of wife, son. Jason Shackelford, of Columbia, "raped and killed his girlfriends 12-year-old daughter on the night of Feb. 8 into the morning of Feb. 9 at a home in the 500 block of Avenue H in Columbia. Stoltzfoos' uncle is still in shock after learning police discovered his niece's decaying body in a shallow grave. Teen Who Vanished Weeks Ago Walking Home from Church Was 'Harmed,' and Suspect Is Arrested, Amish Teen Linda Stoltzfoos' Cause of Death Revealed Days After Her Remains Were Found, Man Charged with Murder of Pa. Lancaster County District Attorney's Office, Pa. Diamantoni could not comment on how long Bermudez-Melendez may have been dead or the number or location of his gunshot wounds, citing the ongoing investigation. Prosecutors previously charged Justo Smoker. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. Editor's note: The above video is from July 28. Lancaster police and fire department crews were dispatched to the 3400 block of Dizzy Dean Drive around 9 a.m. Friday. Prosecutors previously charged Justo Smoker with killing her even though they had not found her body at that point. "There's security cameras everywhere," La Salle University Criminal Justice Chair Charles Gallagher said. Click here to follow Daily Voice Lancaster and receive free news updates. The . Investigators believe the body was there for weeks before it was found. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. A man who found a woman's body in his motel room says he hasn't been able to sleep because he can still see her face when he closes his eyes. At this time, (the mom) alerted hotel staff to call the police. The death investigation has preliminarily been ruled as a non-criminal . The importance of sanitizing infant feeding items In a modern, first world country, its easy to forget that potentially deadly bacteria can thrive anywhere. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Donald Lawrence Meshey Jr., 32, was arrested . Rob Eachus . York City Police looking for missing teen, Police investigating two deaths in Lancaster County. A man was found dead inside of a Central Pennsylvania restaurant on Tuesday morning, according to authorities. 3 March 2023, 1:41 pm. BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. This is a comprehensive investigation involving multiple crime scenes and numerous locations of interest in Lancaster County, Adams said Wednesday. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A man's body pulled from the Susquehanna River on Monday is believed to be a man who was shot by Harrisburg police in January, according to a , A West York man has been charged with homicide in the killing of a man whose body was found in southern Lancaster County in March, Pennsylvani. A 12-year-old boy who disappeared while on a camping trip in . Authorities say they discovered the victim's remains Wednesday in a rural part of Lancaster County near the same place where the suspect had worked. Bermudez-Melendez underwent an autopsy Monday morning which determined he died of multiple gunshot wounds to the body, Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni said. Police are asking for the community to help as well. Linda Stoltzfoos, 18, was reported . Donald Meshey Jr., 32, also . Click here for more on "Dateline's" Missing in America series. Ezequiel B. Almodovar, of Hunsecker Road in Upper Leacock Township, is charged with two counts of homicide in connection to the deaths of the two men found in the vehicle. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, additional charges were filed against Schied on allegations, Philly building owner charged in blaze that killed firefighter, Man killed in weekend shooting identified: coroner. LANCASTER, Pa. Manheim Twp, A woman who was an acquaintance and relative of the dead men contacted police Monday night and said the men were missing. In charging Smoker with killing Stoltzfoos, prosecutors "alleged that the passing of time, along with the complete cessation of all routine activities led to the inevitable conclusion that Linda was deceased and that Smoker caused her death," the DA's office said. 27. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. All rights reserved (About Us). When they arrived at the scene, they say they found the remains of a dead . No other homicides have been recorded in Lancaster County so far this year, though Suzanna Kauffman, 20, of West Cocalico Township, was found dead inside a North Carolina hotel on Jan. 17. Lancaster, Teen Vanished After Her Amish Church Service and Suspect Is Arrested But She's Still Missing, Dismembered Remains of N.C. Man Who Vanished Over a Month Ago Found in Barrel of Concrete, Lyft Driver Who Went Missing in Florida Has Been Found Dead, Daughter Says, Everything to Know About the Search For Missing Cohasset Woman Ana Walshe, Hacksaw, Hatchet and Bloody Rug Found at Trash Site During Search for Missing Mass. The remains were found in the back corner of the Target parking lot off . East Lampeter Township police Lt. Matt Hess told NBC's "Dateline" last year after Stoltzfoos disappeared that there was no reason to believe the teenager wanted to leave or take a trip, and doing so would be very out of her character. He stated he attempted to conceal the victim's body in a freezer in the basement," the Lancaster County District Attorney says. 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Authorities also say security video appears to show the kidnapping. "There was just anguish at first, but then it really starts bringing closure," said Mervin Fisher, Stoltzfoos' uncle. Raymond Charles Rowe a Pennsylvania DJ known as "DJ Freez" pleaded guilty to raping and murdering 25-year-old elementary school teacher Christy Mirack. "Shackelford allegedly used the (daughter's) well-being as leverage and sexually assaulted (the mom) again at the hotel before allowing her to go smoke a cigarette. When you basically go through a toll, there is a security camera," Gallagher said. A 36-year-old Lancaster County man has been charged in connection to the deaths of two people found Tuesday in a burning vehicle on Charlestown Road, according to the Lancaster County District . Lancaster Bureau of Police. "The Stoltzfoos family has been notified of this update and are understandably still processing this information," the DA's office said in a statement. Bermudez-Melendez is the fourth death police have investigated as a homicide in Lancaster County this month. 16 In 198 East Hempfield Twp, Police have broken into a home in Bermondsey to find a woman dead and a man she knew with injuries, who was then arrested as a murder suspect at the scene. The Pennsylvania Department of State barred him from acting as the funeral homes director in January 2020, and eventually revoked his license. Linda Stoltzfoos was last seen June 21 while walking home from church in the Bird-in-Hand area of Lancaster County. YEADON, Pa. - Homicide detectives in Delaware County are investigating after a man was found shot and killed in a parking lot Wednesday morning. Smoker first became a kidnapping suspect for police after multiple witnesses in the area reported seeing an Amish female in the passenger seat of a red car. According to the Lancaster County Coroner's . Officers broke into to the property and the body of a 46-year-old . The Lancaster County coroner is investigating the death of a person whose body was found in Binns Park in Lancaster.Subscribe to WGAL on YouTube now for more. The Lancaster County Coroner's Office has identified the person found dead at Queen . Ephrata, Authorities in Dauphin County discovered a body in the Susquehanna River near the Lancaster County border Monday, according to a report by ABC27. East Lampeter Township police are seeking the public's help in identifying two people who stole $2,000 in clothing from Vineyard Vines at Tang. Rapho Twp, They arent sure if foul play was involved. Warwick Twp, More than ever, success in business is determined by reach in your community. Daily Voice prov, Woman Who Went On Racial Tirade At PA Pizzeria Facing Charges, Shooter Of NJ Trooper Captured In South Carolina, Video Shows H, Two Rooms Burned In Arsonist's Blaze At Carlisle Motel: Police, Are You Running A Local Business? He was charged with murder in December after investigators reviewed all of the evidence gathered and made the determination that Stoltzfoos was likely dead. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Ezequiel Almodovar, 36, remains at large, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office. A Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal determined the fire to be arson. C. Columbia Police Detective Matthew Leddy filed charges. Adams revealed Thursday the exhaustive 10-month search for the victim's remains included K-9s, horses, drones, submarines and more than 15,000 man-hours. And if they cant get ahold of them please contact us so we can follow up, Eachus said. The district attorney's office said the remains were found in a rural area in the eastern part of the county, which is southeast of Harrisburg. Error! responded to a body found at the Queen Street . Troopers recovered Edguardo Luis Bermudez-Melendez, 31, of West York, in an embankment near Holtwood Road (Route 372) near the Norman Wood Bridge over the Susquehanna River, state police said in a news release. The investigation remains active. Emma Fradgley. "Law enforcement searched extensively for Linda's body since June of last year," Adams said. He killed a 10-year-old girl and wounded 11 other children, in addition to a schoolyard supervisor and a passer-by. That's when prosecutors say the 18-year-old was kidnapped while walking home from church. Man found dead near Martic Township road; police investigating death as homicide [update], By opting into newsletters you are agreeing to our, Jatavis D. Scott, 25, of Alligator, Mississippi, Linnette Ayala, 22, of East Hempfield Township, Suzanna Kauffman, 20, of West Cocalico Township, Manheim Twp special meeting to deal with Oregon Village case, Columbia man shot, killed man after fight outside Manheim Township nightclub Saturday: police [update], In vivid detail, grand jury report lays out how top cop allegedly stole funds intended to fight drug crime, Man who claimed he had a bomb during bank robberies last week arrested: police, 5 guns recovered in separate weekend incidents in Lancaster city: police, Police look for duo who stole $2K worth of clothing at Tanger Outlets, Body found in Susquehanna River near Three Mile Island: report, Body recovered from Susquehanna River is likely man shot by Harrisburg police in January: report, Charges filed in connection to March homicide in York. It's a 2014 Mazda 3 with Pennsylvania license plate LWC 2762.Anyone with information is asked to call Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online. Manor Twp, . Photo: Courtesy of Robert Kopta and Gloria Smith. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (CBS) -- We're now hearing from the grieving family of Amish teenager Linda Stoltzfoos after authorities announced Thursday her body has been found. The coroner says an autopsy must be done to confirm the identity of the remains and a cause of death. Elizabethtown, It was kinda shocking, Brown said. Justo Smoker, 35, was arrested in July on charges of felony kidnapping and misdemeanor false imprisonment in connection with Stoltzfoos' disappearance. Chester County, PA Arrests, Mugshots & Jail Records. A man walking his dog flagged down police after finding a body on the ground near a library in Philadelphia's Logan neighborhood. Adams' office will provide further updates as more information becomes available. Be the first to know breaking news, delivered only when a big story is developing. HELLERTOWN, Pa. - Millersville University officials confirm the body of 19-year-old Matthew Mindler was found Saturday. It definitely is strange, because its not something youre used to hearing about. The victims are believed to be Jonathan Rivera and Eugenio Morales-Torres, based on evidence and input from relatives, the DA's office said. It was pretty unusual, especially like a place I come to.. In October, Scheid took a no contest plea to charges of tampering with public records and pleaded guilty to charges of abuse of a corpse, according to online court dockets. The DA's office says the investigation so far has determined: RELATED: Police investigating two deaths in Lancaster County. Earlier Wednesday, officials in Lancaster County said they had found human remains in a rural area of eastern Lancaster County while searching for the missing Amish woman. Police were called to Canute Gardens at 8.30pm on Wednesday (March 1) to reports of a concern for welfare. As detectives investigated further, they obtained surveillance video that police said "depicts the abduction" of Stoltzfoos on Beechdale Road, which would have been part of her walk home, and they matched the red Kia Rio vehicle seen in the video to the suspect. Missing man found shot to death in Lancaster County, NEWS 8 STATE POLICE AND NCLAASTER ARE INVESTIGATING A HOMICIDE IN MARKET TOWNSHIP 31 YEAR OLD ED. A former Lancaster County funeral director who was convicted of mishandling bodies and falsifying death records last year was found dead Monday evening, according to the coroners office. NORRISTOWN, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- A woman charged with the murder of a firefighter after crashing into him on the Schuylkill Expressway in 2021 has been sentenced to 12 to 24 years in prison. The body was found inside a home in the 500 block of Avenue H, Columbia Borough on Friday, Feb . Police are working to gather information to piece together what happened. He was sentenced to between three and 12 months in jail, followed by years of probation. First published on April 22, 2021 / 5:05 PM. Investigators also found falsified death records when remains were embalmed or created. The unidentified man was found at La Piazza restaurant, located in the 800 Block of Lititz Pike in Lititz, according to Northern Lancaster County Regional police. The bodies were starting to decompose as a result. The coroners office was called to the parking lot of Goods Store in Quarryville Borough at 7:15 p.m., the coroners office said. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. An attorney for Smoker could not be immediately reached by PEOPLE for comment. First responders pronounced the man dead. Shackelford then raped the mother before forcing her to leave for the Wyndham Lancaster hotel with him. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The identity of the man has been confirmed by authorities but will not be released until family has been properly notified, police say. Justo Smoker is accused of kidnapping and killing Stolzfoos. The mother,voluntarily provided a statement to and was interviewed by Columbia Police around 6:50 a.m. on Feb. 10. Shoppers like Abby Brown were surprised to see a crime scene there. She "stated she received a text while at work around 6:35 a.m. on Feb. 9 from Shackelford saying (her daughter) was sick and in bed," the DA wrote in the release. In the fall of 2021, additional charges were filed against Schied on allegations that he intentionally starved a calf to death and failed to provide adequate food and water to other animals, including a cat. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. LANCASTER, Pa. A Pennsylvania man faces homicide charges after a human head was found in a freezer at his family's home and a dismembered body was found in a bed. / CBS Philadelphia. The investigation of the deaths has involved numerous local agencies, including East Lampeter Township police, Manor Township police, Pennsylvania State Police, the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office and the Lancaster County Coroners Office, the DA said. The Lancaster County coroner is set to do an autopsy Friday to explain the cause of death. A Lancaster, Pennsylvania, man faces homicide charges after he led police to a human head in his freezer. The news was posted on the Millersville University Facebook page. A public defender listed as representing him could not immediately be reached after business hours Wednesday night. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WGAL-TV. Bermudez-Melendez had not been seen since the evening of March 13 and was reported missing to West York Borough police the following day. A dead body found in a home in Lancaster County is being investigated as a homicide, authorities say. The man was identified as Andrew Scheid. May 16, 1986 Police were called to the scene at Highland Street around 10 AM. Details. 'Very Active' Investigation of 2 Individuals Found Dead in . The police officer who fatally shot a knife-wielding man in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, last month was justified in opening fire and will not face criminal charges, Lancaster District Attorney . Jason Shackelford and the 500 block of Avenue H, Columbia Borough where the 12-year-old's body was found. Success! Autopsies are expected later this week. The collaboration between law-enforcement agencies once again was outstanding and aided in the identification of Almodovar as being involved in the deaths of these two men.. State police say a vehicle traveling East on State Road 322, hit another vehicle that was . Kochka could not provide any additional information Monday afternoon, describing the incident as an active homicide investigation. State police in Lancaster and York counties are investigating. According to Penn Live, the teen's body hasn't been found, but the evidence that investigators accumulated gave the DA's office enough information to file homicide . Lt. A 57-year-old woman whose family reported her missing out of concern for her welfare was found dead in a Lancaster County park, police said Wednesday morning. / CBS Philadelphia. Jason Shackelford, of Columbia, "raped and killed his girlfriend's 12-year-old daughter on the night of Feb. 8 into the morning of Feb. 9 at a home in the 500 block of Avenue H in Columbia. She explained that Shackelford and she were going through a breakup, and she recently asked him to move out. Anyone with information is asked to call Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online. Manheim Townships board of commissioners will discuss in a special meeting Monday night wha, Updated: This story has been updated with information from an affidavit of probable cause. "The remains were recovered behind a business in a grave on railroad property and wrapped in a tarp," Adams said. Salisbury Twp & Model Rebecca Landrith was found dead on a Pennsylvania highway with multiple gun shot wounds to her body over the weekend, according to reports. Please enter valid email address to continue. 26, 2021 at 3:43 PM PDT. Smoker, 35, is being held without bail, according to jail and court records. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Smoker is currently being held at Lancaster County Prison without bail.