The above box is in today’s LNP print edition on page A-5 right under the Police Log. It’s just sitting there with no explanation. What is it? My best guess is a rooster? What do you see?
Please check back later today.
There will be more on the unsolved murders when this site returns after the holiday break on Monday. Two items today:
— LNP asks this burning question:
The obvious answer: They get larger and then they implode! In the screenshot below they put four peeps on a skewer – why – who knows? But this is the end result and I just saved you a minute of your life!
ONLY ONE BOX WILL REMAIN
— What’s new with La Voz? They will be digital only. So from all the newspaper boxes that used to be in front of the LNP offices at 8 W. King Street they will now be down to one. The box on the right in the below photo is the La Voz box. What will happen to all the boxes?
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(Click here)
Why isn’t LNP holding District Attorney Craig Stedman accountable for all of the unsolved murders? What happened to LNP’s “occasional series” on the unsolved murders? What is the DA’s cold case unit doing to bring the killers to justice?
Please check back later today.
In very surprising moves, LNP is now (finally) demanding answers and information from District Attorney Craig Stedman and County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni. But LNP has not demanded answers regarding the numerous unsolved murders including the two that opened this post this morning.
I’m serious about Tom Knapp doing a freelance piece on some of these unsolved murders. Without the constraints that LNP put on his reporting, he could find and report vital information and make a real name for himself.
There will be more briefly tomorrow and then this site will go on holiday break until Monday, April 22.
* Yesterday, the attorneys for PA Media Group and LNP Media Group filed a strongly worded “Amended Complaint in Mandamus” against Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni. Three sections of it are below (click here to read the entire amended complaint).
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Here’s a great story idea, Tom Knapp! Follow-up on this story as a freelance journalist. You emailed and spoke to Juanita’s Chevalier’s sister. I know because she forwarded the emails to me. You know how desperate she and other family members are for answers.
Maybe this time you could call DA Craig Stedman or Brett Hambright and ask them why a simple DNA test has not been done let alone an intensive DNA search to find the killer or killers of these two women.
The below story – one of many about this on this site – was originally published on January 24th of this year (click here for the original) and the links to the two articles are:
— Tom Knapp’s May 29, 2018 article,”Unsolved: Police seek justice for 2 women slain in 1990s, hope new technology might generate leads” is here.
— Brett Hambright’s October 21, 2014 article, “COLD CASES: 2 local prostitutes strangled in ’90s by same killer?” is here.
Please check back later today.
District Attorney Craig Stedman made LNP news again today regarding records associated with his leased SUV. What doesn’t get mentioned often is all the unsolved murders in Lancaster County. So how about a follow-up to the below January 15, 2019 article – they’ve had four months and yet another grand jury was empaneled (click here).
Have they had any success? What exactly are they doing? I’ll mention several obvious cases tomorrow and also an idea for fired LNP reporter Tom Knapp. Remember when LNP was doing an “occasional series” on the unsolved murders? There hasn’t been one in a very long time…
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I had a pleasant phone conversation with a very nice East Lampeter Township Police Officer yesterday afternoon. I don’t agree with their stance and I think if Steven Markle were harassing an LNP or WGAL reporter the way he is harassing me he would be charged by now.
But an official report has been made and I intend to follow-up and also contact an attorney to pursue this further. I will keep you up to date on developments but what really annoys me is that all of this takes time away from the investigating, reporting and writing that I love to do. So, it will be back to the news later today.
[Editor’s note: One of the comments into this site started with – “I can imagine that this person is in contact with everyone mentioned on your site.” Yes, he is that insane. But my favorite was when I ran a column by F&M’s G. Terry Madonna (pictured above) who added me to his email list for his column distribution to media outlets across the state.
Markle said he was going to contact Madonna! Can you imagine this idiot, insane convicted stalker talking to Madonna? LOL! I did not request to be added to his email list but I will say again I appreciate it and thank him for recognizing this site and I am still receiving the emails.
If you hear from Markle, know that he is a mentally ill, convicted stalker who will soon be convicted again. From the “CHERYL & STEVE MARKLE” tab at the top of this site:
Cyberstalking is a compulsion. It aims to humiliate, control, frighten, manipulate, embarrass, get revenge at, or otherwise harm the victim. Many cyberstalkers are obsessed, unstable, or otherwise mentally ill. Still, others are simply angry or hurt and have crossed the line into criminal activity when expressing these emotions. While they can exhibit charm and eloquence, they are generally isolated and desperate, have very low self-esteem, and are especially sensitive to rejection. The financial ruin of the victim can also be part of their goal. Where some of us may poke our nose into Facebook a little too often or fanatically follow a celebrity online, a cyberstalker will go further by repeatedly sending unwanted anonymous messages, threats, or comments, and he or she will continue doing these things despite repeated requests and warnings to stop.]
The below comment in from Stalker Steve this afternoon. Good idea! I faxed his office today and will call his office and follow-up with the East Lampeter Township police tomorrow.
A 44-year-old married man who is so obsessed, jealous and mentally ill that he has sent in two to three nasty, profanity laced comments into this site every day for seven years. The mind simply boggles!
* This comment into this site two days ago by Steven Markle of 342 Hillside Terrace, Leola, PA is getting him reported to the police and the District Attorney’s office for repeated terroristic threats and harassment.
For seven years – two or three times a day – he sends comments like this (including this morning) into this site using a proxy or tor server.
Yes, Steve, a lot of people read what is on this site and a lot of people are watching you. You need to be arrested and charged – now!
The LNP editorial board goes after DA Craig Stedman again today (click here). Stedman is not fit for the bench. Someone in authority needs to step up and remove this man from the ballot! Who has the courage to speak up?
Please check back later today.
— Doing some research this afternoon. LIP News will return tomorrow. —
* District Attorney Craig Stedman didn’t get a conviction in the below civil forfeiture case – in fact, I can’t find where any criminal charges were filed against either of the individuals named. They don’t state the gun was stolen or used in a crime or owned illegally. They just want the gun because there was a box from California! And Judge David Ashworth agreed with the DA! This is outrageous!
Click here to read the “Petition for Forfeiture” in its entirety.
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There was a tornado watch in Lancaster last night and Lancaster Online did not even have it as “breaking news” or as one of their lead stories! What in the world? And did LNP make it free for people to read or was their paywall still up for this critically important story?
We had quite the storm in Philly last night! What will today bring?
Please check back later today.
* I still want to know why Brian Thomas Gately signed over $920 dollars to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s office (see yesterday’s post). Yes, he is trying to get a very minor case expunged in Montgomery County but why did he sign over $920 to Lancaster County?
District Attorney Craig Stedman certainly didn’t get a conviction in this civil forfeiture case but he wants the $206 dollars and filed for it in March of this year (click here to read the entire “Petition for Forfeiture”)! Was Michael Franco convicted in federal court? Does that matter or “count?”
Does anyone know why the DA’s office seized $920 dollars from Brian Thomas Gately on January 14, 2019 (see below and click here to read it in its entirety)? I cannot find a criminal record whatsoever for Brian Gately in Lancaster County.
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** Someone sent the below Order in under the comments under yesterday’s post. This is the signed Order Judge Leonard G. Brown, III issued yesterday after the hearing on District Attorney Craig Stedman’s civil forfeiture records.
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* It was also Judge Howard Knisely who accepted Shaunta Powell’s negotiated guilty plea and sentenced her to nine to 23 months in jail (pictured left). Her bail was $100,000 cash and she has been in Lancaster County Prison since September 30, 2018 (click here for, “Woman gets prison time for scamming Lancaster County man out of $17,000 through Facebook messenger”).
The lead story on Lancaster Online this morning is another white woman charged with theft (click here). She has not spent a day in jail and has been free on $25,000 unsecured bail since November.
We know that black women go to jail for theft in Lancaster County. Will this white woman go to jail? She’s currently scheduled to have a “status conference” before Judge Howard Knisely on May 9th. LIP News will follow her case.
— It’s been quite a day and a challenge. LIP News will return tomorrow. —
At some point on Friday, this site may be down very briefly and then come up as a “new” site. Very little will change but it will be clean and fresh. So if you come here and don’t immediately recognize it – don’t leave! It’s LIP News!
After that – it’s back to the news! Thank you for your patience!
UPDATE – The developments with the DA and LNP today are simply astounding. So are the amounts of money involved.
Unfortunately, I spent a lot of the day working on a fix for this site. Nothing is easy! Please continue to be patient and there will be much more on the situation with the DA tomorrow.
** This email just in on the sentencing of David Fisher for not reporting child abuse (click here for the initial report on this site):
I just received an update from a victims advocate that attended David Fishers Hearing.
He received a 15 month probation sentence.
This is rather disappointing for victim’s advocates.
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* Click here to read the DA’s very recent press release. The opening sentence in their Facebook post is a lie. This site reported on a man who had over $5,000 in cash taken on the spot following a vehicle stop.
(Click here to read the LNP story)
There is a hearing this morning before Judge Leonard G. Brown, III at 9:00 am in Courtroom #2 regarding the County Commissioners Petition to Intervene in this case (see below).
Please check back later today.
* This comment came in just as this site went down so I’m also posting it here. Actually, according to LNP his bail was dropped to $500,000 unsecured but the rest of this comment is dead on. When are we going to protect the children?
Then there’s the latest. A 75 year old Amish man David Smucker is arrested and charged with 24 counts of child molesting. He was in LCP on two million dollars bail. Stedman goes along with dropping his bail to two hundred thousand, and a move to Whispering Hope. This is an unsecured facility and Smucker is a danger to the community. Craig must be going for the Amish vote?
He is a conservative Mennonite church minister that didn’t report abuse in Huntingdon County, Pa. He wanted to “deal with it within the church.“ I understand a plea deal of 24-48 months is on the table, but the judge ordered a background review before Thursday’s sentencing.
A brief explanation. WordPress has switched to the Gutenberg software publishing system. They advised users several months ago. I did not have time to play around with it and it is completely different. When I did the WordPress update yesterday, I was not aware that it was the switch to Gutenberg! Besides needing some computer upgrades, I have no idea how to use this. Please be patient! * Edited to add, the Masthead will be messed up for a little while! ** Edited to add, I just switched back to the classic editor but the Masthead and size are a work in progress!
(Click here to read the story online.)
Good! Now what are the Republicans going to do about District Attorney Craig Stedman running to be a Lancaster County Judge? In light of everything that has happened and come to light, it is absolutely unconscionable and unacceptable!
Please check back later today.
At the same time as LNP announces “A lager for longevity” they also state it is the end for their Sunday Magazine (click here). So much for longevity!
The county and Coroner Stephen Diamantoni appealed the Open Records decision in the Lancaster Court of Common Pleas and it is ongoing. I thought this portion of their appeal was interesting (click here to read the entire appeal). There will be more tomorrow.
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* The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records has sided with LNP in a dispute over coroner records, ruling that autopsy and toxicology reports are public records.
The Oct. 24 ruling follows a Right-to-Know request that LNP reporter Carter Walker filed Sept. 10, seeking copies of “all of the 2017 autopsy and toxicology reports from the Lancaster County Coroner’s office.”
From the LNP article, “Office of Open Records rules for LNP in dispute over autopsy & toxicology reports,” (click here).
This case is still in the courts.
From the Coroner’s Report published by LNP on April 4 (click here).
I believe the correct spelling of his middle name should be “Ray.” But there is something far more serious that is obviously incorrect with this entry.
Even though David Smucker’s docket indicates he was present at his preliminary hearing today, I am told that he did not attend and his lawyer took care of all the paperwork.
The below in from G. Terry Madonna of F&M. Discourse over discord!
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* According to his updated docket, David Smucker waived his preliminary hearing today and all charges were carried over to the Court of Common Pleas.
This email just in (Ken Smith’s comment is below in this post):
Ken Smith’s comment is ironic to say the least. Drug Task Force detectives and funds were used to investigate a massage parlor in New Holland area. The investigation ended up happily for one or two of them. Stedman is fighting disclosure of DTF expenditures not only because of the SUV lease, but because DTF funds paid for hand jobs. Nice fringe benefit if you can get it. Stedman will not disclose fact he entered a three year lease for SUV in January 2016. He still has vehicle. Did he buy out residual on lease with his money and get a great deal or with DTF money? He’s not saying.
You are right! What’s up with that? From the original LNP article, “Woman at New Holland health spa arrested for prostitution,” there is this (click here):
Reacting to complaints from residents, New Holland police and the Lancaster County Drug Task Force used undercover investigators to determine that a woman was offering to perform sex acts at the Angel Spa, 436 W. Main St., police said.
Hmmm…
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Yesterday, the above was a major story on Lancaster Online (click here).
So, we know black women can’t steal in Lancaster County – but what about white women? I published the below on November 27, 2018 (click here for the original). Neither of these women have spent a single day in jail and both are currently scheduled to have “status conferences” in their cases on April 17th; Hartman with Judge Donald Totaro and Roten with Judge David Wright.
LIP News will continue to follow their cases to see if white women really can steal in Lancaster County.
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* Posted on Lancaster Online’s Facebook page under today’s story, “Lancaster County district attorney’s office wants to start a sex trafficking task force,” (click here).
Ouch! It looks like an LNP moderator has already deleted the comment!
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Yesterday afternoon I published a list of recent LNP editorials about childhood sexual abuse and they have another one today (click here)! Does LNP give the Amish a pass on this? Is there a double standard?
Please check back later today.
This LNP headline is a lie. Whispering Hope is not a physical rehabilitation center! Once again, DA Stedman and Judge Ashworth have given blatant preferential treatment to a man because he is Amish.
And I don’t care if he’s 74-years-old. He has 24 felony counts of child sexual abuse including against his own daughters.
LNP has written editorial after editorial about child sexual abuse since the grand jury report on priests in Pennsylvania was released. In fact, I googled “child sexual abuse editorial LancasterOnline” and the first page of Google results are below.
You are disgusting liars and hypocrites, LNP! Shame on you for not calling out Stedman and Ashworth and protecting children!
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**** I received the below photo of Whispering Hope (thank you). Can anyone confirm this?
*** LNP reporter Lindsey Blest, could you ask Judge Ashworth the below questions that came in as a comment this morning? Could you investigate, reporter Blest and LNP?
This guy has 24 felonies. Get real !! Why was he sent to Whispering Hope if he has health issues ? The prison has more staff medically qualified than Whispering hope. WH operates on a volunteer staff.
Also – WH accepts both men and women and as young as 16. Children are frequently at WH to visit other patients. This IS NOT A SAFE PLACE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN OUTCRY — THIS PERV BELONGS IN JAIL
** Lancaster County Prison is fully handicapped accessible and there are prisoners in wheelchairs in the prison all the time.
* The story about David Smucker just went online (click here).
“Sending somebody of the Amish faith to a facility focused on the Amish faith as a holding pattern seems to make sense,” Ashworth [Judge David Ashworth] said.
From the above article in today’s print edition but not currently online. Click here for the Saturday story on this site about David Smucker, charged with 24 felony counts of child sexual abuse, being sent to the Whispering Hope facility.
What about Muslims, Judge? What about members of the Jewish faith, Judge? Why can’t the county prison meet his medical needs? Should the Amish get this very special treatment or is this an outrage?
BRING THE KID BACK!
This comment in this morning under the post below:
Checked this morning and the City stream failed again.
Bring the kid back and pay him to do it right.
Yes, the city failed again! There will be more on this coming.
Please check back later today.
It’s been a busy day. There is a city council committee meeting tonight beginning at 6:00 pm (click here and see below). I will catch up on court items tomorrow.
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* — And he’s blamed LNP, especially reporter Carter Walker, for bringing all this to light.
From today’s editorial linked to below.
What really seems to have sealed Stedman’s fate with LNP is that his office does not like LNP reporter Carter Walker.
From the texts between Stedman and attorney Michael Hess there is one from Stedman (click here):
Hmmm…
From today’s LNP editorial (click here).
That is strongly worded and Stedman should not be a judge. But where was LNP when Stedman gave Representative Bryan Cutler’s brother-in-law, G. Scott Davis, unbelievably preferential treatment when he shot and killed his two-month-old daughter on Christmas Eve?
Where was LNP when Stedman gave then County Commissioner Scott Martin’s sister, Katie West, unbelievably preferential treatment involving drugs and a fatal car crash?
Where was LNP when Stedman gave a cop’s son and his friend, Devin Gardill and Luke Karpathios, unbelievably preferential treatment for an armed and violent home invasion for drugs?
Where was LNP then? Why weren’t they screaming for justice then? No, Stedman should not be a judge!
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The above was posted on Lancaster Online’s Facebook page regarding 74-year-old Amish man David Smucker who is charged with 24 felonies including rape and incest. His bail was originally $2 million cash but his attorney requested a bail modification and Judge David Ashworth granted it. His docket does not indicate his new bail amount or conditions but he is not in Lancaster County Prison according to the prisoner lookup.
What in the world is going on and why is this man getting this very special and questionable treatment?
According to today’s court schedule (below), Joseph Valentin, Jr. was scheduled to enter a guilty plea today to 34 counts of sexual abuse of children (see yesterday’s post).
His dockets have not been updated so I will follow-up on Monday.
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The headline to a Letter to the Editor in today’s LNP (click here).
This is why more government organizations need to livestream their meetings and release documents on their websites! That’s why I’ve been hounding the city to get their livestream working properly. If you only get your city news from LNP reporter Tim Stuhldreher, you are seriously misinformed!
Please check back later today.
Whether or not people may want to know about this is beside the point: our children need protection from such abuse–period!
Part of a comment in under this post.
Agreed. And the only way I know to give them protection is to let the public know it is going on and to ask for their help in knowing the signs and reporting suspected abuse to the authorities.
Joseph A. Valentin, Jr. from his Twitter account.
From today’s Letter to the Editor, “Noisy car is not news,” (click here).
Hear! Hear! Enough with the scrapple, chicken corn soup and hog maw! Let us have some news!
Please check back later today.
The commissioners’ move forces Stedman to use either civil-asset forfeiture proceeds intended for use by the Drug Task Force, campaign money — he is seeking a county judgeship this year — or personal funds to pay for his legal expenses.
From today’s LNP story linked to immediately below.
He can’t use campaign money, can he? He’s running to be a judge! I don’t think he can use campaign money to pay his legal fees as District Attorney!
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*** The human resources office also found that Stedman’s top deputy, First Assistant District Attorney Christopher S. Larsen, violated county policy by taking a personnel file out of the office. It recommended that Stedman discipline Larsen “up to and including termination” for his use of the file.
Larsen, however, remains on the job. He appeared in court this week.
From the LNP story that just went online, “Lancaster County Commissioners block DA Stedman from using taxpayer funds for lawsuit,” (click here).
Yup! That’s exactly what I said immediately below!
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** The birthing happened while Osei was working at a Warwick Township group home Jan. 14. She called her supervisor to say she was in pain, and the supervisor called 9-1-1. A Northern Lancaster County police officer found Osei sitting on a toilet, and realized there was a baby partially submerged in the water, Assistant District Attorney Christopher Larsen presented in court.
From yesterday’s LNP article, “Woman pleads guilty to giving birth, leaving baby in toilet at Warwick Township workplace; will be sentenced at later date,” (click here).
Two items about this:
— First Assistant District Attorney Christopher Larsen is still with the district attorney’s office. Was he lying about going to the Georgelis Law Firm? Did Georgelis change their mind after the county commissioners stated he could/should be fired for his antics regarding ADA Mark Fetterman? Does anyone know? (Click here for “IS LARSEN OUT?”)
— The below is part of an excellent comment posted under the article on Lancaster Online’s Facebook page. She has been in jail since giving birth and I can’t imagine the trauma she has gone through. Women (and men) need to come to this woman’s defense!
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* Judge Leonard G. Brown, III has scheduled a hearing for Thursday, April 11 in the Open Records lawsuit to obtain civil forfeiture records from the District Attorney’s office.
To recap:
— The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records sided with LNP and reporter Carter Walker that the civil forfeiture records must be released.
— On February 26th of this year, District Attorney Craig Stedman appealed the release of the records in the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas.
— On February 28th, the County of Lancaster filed a petition to intervene in the case.
— On March 1st, DA Stedman filed a motion strongly objecting to the county’s request to intervene.
— On March 15th, the county requested a hearing.
— The hearing is now scheduled for April 11 (see below).
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The city managed to livestream last night’s very short city council meeting – with a brief break (click here)! The report from the Human Relations Commission. was literally only two minutes long and it’s difficult to hear because the speaker was far from the podium microphone.
I need to buy a new pair of headphones and I will listen again and report back.
Please check back later today.
