The scene was surreal, almost unimaginable, on West Bergh Street in Plains Township on Feb. 1.
A woman’s body was covered in the middle of the street as heavy snow fell. Off to the side, a man’s body laid at the foot of the steps leading into his home.
In what was described as a “useless, pointless killing,” a husband and wife were killed by their neighbor, who then took his own life, in what authorities said was a dispute about shoveling snow.
As 2021 comes to an end, records show 15 people were intentionally killed by another person in the county, including those two people killed in Plains Township and 13. By comparison, there were 14 people intentionally killed in 2020.
The county’s largest municipality, Wilkes-Barre, had five homicide victims in 2021, two more than the previous year.
Out of the 13 homicide cases in the county, there were two cases that involved two victims each. One case remains without an arrest, one was ruled justifiable and another remains under investigation but the suspect is known to investigators.
Jan. 9: Mary Susan Barrett, 43, was bludgeoned to death with a fire poker allegedly by her husband, Daniel Barrett, inside their Gaylord Avenue home in Plymouth. Daniel Barrett told authorities he killed his wife after she told him she cheated on him with another man, court records say. Daniel Barrett surrendered to authorities Jan. 11 when the body of his wife was found in the basem*nt of their home.
Jan. 28: Edgar Gearhart, 24, an inmate at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas, Jackson Township, was fatally stabbed inside his cell. State police at Wilkes-Barre charged inmate Nafese Antoine Pierce, 26, with killing Gearhart over a dispute about telephone privileges. Corrections Officer Osmel Martinez, 26, was charged with manslaughter for encouraging Pierce to fight Gearhart inside a cell, court records say.
Jan. 30: Damian Thomas, 32, and Maurice Chapman, 32, were fatally shot and Quan Cade Jr., was seriously injured outside Bo’s on Main, 215 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre. Jayshawn Johnson, 22, was charged in the shooting and captured by U.S. Marshals in Florida on Feb. 19.
Feb. 1: James Goy Jr., and his wife, Lisa Ann Goy, 48, were fatally shot in front of their home by their neighbor, Jeffrey Spaide, 47, during what authorities said was a dispute about shoveling snow on West Bergh Street, Plains Township. Spaide took his own life inside his house.
Feb. 13: Frantz Orcel, 38, of Hazleton, was found unresponsive in the parking lot of 1003 N. Vine St., Hazleton. He died five days later at Lehigh Valley Hospital near Allentown on Feb. 18. Hazleton police charged Joshua Keziah, 33, of Berwick, in the killing.
Feb. 18: Thomas Worthy Painter, 26, sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen by a bail bondsman inside 83 Fairview Drive, Nantico*ke. Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said the bail bondsman went to Painter’s house due to a bail revocation hearing. Painter aimed a rifle at the bail bondsman who fired a shot. Painter died at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre Medical Center. Painter’s death was ruled justifiable by Sanguedolce. The name of the bail bondsman was not released.
March 27: Diavian Mikel Tooley, 19, suffered a fatal gunshot wound while recording a music video with his cousin, Ziare Mouzone, 22, inside their home at 72 Lloyds Lane, Wilkes-Barre. Mouzone was holding a .40-caliber Glock as a prop during the video recording. Mouzone was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
April 29: Jimmy Lee Foster, 40, of Wilkes-Barre, was fatally shot inside a second floor apartment at 271 S. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre, during a dispute with another person. Authorities said the gunman cooperated and may had been attacked by Foster. No charges have been filed.
June 4: Helena Johnson, 38, of Massachusetts, was found beaten to death inside a motel at 1221 N. Church St., Hazle Township. State police at Hazleton charged her boyfriend, Joseph Alan Sarmiento, 37, of Quakertown, with the killing.
Aug. 11: Yana Guitson, 25, was found dead from stab wounds inside 533 W. State St., Larksville. State police at Wilkes-Barre charged her uncle, Terry L. Campbell, 52, with the killing. Court records say Campbell and Guitson did not get along.
Sept. 16: Judith C. Comisky, 52, was found dead inside her home at 123 Willow St., Wilkes-Barre, from multiple stab wounds. City police charged James Raymond Alberto, 33, and Charles Reilly Bierly, 23, with the killing. Court records say Alberto persuaded Bierly to kill Comisky as he believed the woman was providing police information about him.
Oct. 16: Elizabeth Bennett Leonard, 41, was found dead from multiple stab wounds inside her residence at 58 Vandermark Ave., Nuangola, Rice Township. State police at Hazleton charged Lavrius O’Brian Watson, 27, fo Pocono Summit, with the killing. Court records say Watson was helping Leonard with babysitting chores and had an adverse affect after eating a marijuana cookie.
Oct. 24: Jose Rafael Mena Disla, 24, of Scranton, was fatally shot at Mofon Lounge, 120 Academy St., Wilkes-Barre. Police said Disla was part of a group from Scranton at the lounge along with another group from Scranton. The two groups did not get along. During a fight, Disla displayed a handgun and another person also brandished a handgun shooting Disla, police said. No charges have been filed.
