Man charged with killing Amish teen

The man who was charged with kidnapping an Amish teenager in Lancaster County is now facing charges of criminal homicide.

The Lancaster County district attorney’s office announced Monday that police filed criminal homicide charges against Justo Smoker, who previously was charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment in connection with the disappearance of 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos.

“In consideration of the evidence collected over the past six months, our office has approved the filing of a charge alleging Smoker killed Linda after kidnapping her while she walked home from church on Beechdale Road in Upper Leacock Township,” the DA’s office said in a news release.

Her body has not yet been found, and efforts are ongoing to locate her to provide closure to the family.

Smoker has been in Lancaster County Prison since July 11.

“Given the circumstances of Linda’s disappearance; specifically, that she was forcefully abducted by a stranger, we always feared she suffered a tragic fate,” Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams said in a news release Monday. “After careful consideration of all of the facts uncovered by the investigation as a whole, we are now in a position — legally — to charge Smoker with murder.”

The homicide charge is the result of a collaborative investigation between East Lampeter Township police, Pennsylvania State Police, FBI, and the district attorney’s office.

Since the time of her disappearance, investigators tried to locate her by circulating photos of her through social media, billboards and the media, all to no avail.

Investigators say she was active in her community and her church and had no reason to leave unexpectedly, which is why they believe she was kidnapped walking home from church June 21.

Witnesses soon told police they saw an Amish girl climb into a red car, which they linked to Smoker.

The investigation led to kidnapping charges in August, followed by the homicide charges Monday.

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