Funeral set for Philadelphia firefighter killed in collapse
PHILADELPHIA » A funeral date has been set for a veteran Philadelphia firefighter who was fatally injured when a burning row home collapsed over the weekend.
Officials on Monday said a funeral mass for Lt. Matthew LeTourneau will be held on Friday at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
The 11-year veteran was pulled from the home on Saturday by fellow firefighters and taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
A person who lived in the home also was killed in the blaze. Two other firefighters were treated at a hospital for undisclosed injuries that were not believed to be lifethreatening.
Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered all state flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of LeTourneau.
Wife of chief accused of soliciting teen: Family ‘shattered’
LEECHBURG, PA. » A Pennsylvania police chief charged with soliciting sex online from an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl has “shattered” the lives of his family members, his wife said.
Leechburg Police Chief Michael W. Diebold’s wife, Danielle Reinke Diebold, released a statement to newsoutlets Sunday saying she “has never hurt so bad” in her life.
“I don’t know how to pick up all these broken pieces and find a way to put them back together and go on with my life, but I have to try to find a way for my children,” she said. “Our lives have been completely shattered.”
The 40-year-old police chief was arrested Friday at a spot where he allegedly hoped to meet with the girl he thought he’d been communicating with.
The agent told Diebold several times while undercover that the chief was communicating with a 14-year-old girl, authorities said, yet Diebold sent inappropriate pictures and solicited for unlawful sexual contact.
He interacted with the agent under the name “KuteCop4You” and posted an ad on a social media app titled “Dominate male police officer seeks fun, discreet, sub playmate,” KDKA reported .
Diebold is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison after being unable to post a $500,000 bail, according to court records. He is charged with unlawful contact with a minor and criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.
His lawyer, Duke George, said his client is entitled to due process.
A home phone number listed for Diebold went straight to voicemail and could not accept more messages. A message left with the Leechburg police department was not returned. Diebold is still listed as the police chief on the Leechburg website.