The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Homicides
from apparent gunshot wounds in a second-floor bedroom. Two men, Justin M. Mitchell, 41, of Norristown, and Henry DiazAyala, 40, of Philadelphia, are awaiting trial on murder-related charges in connection with the crime. Authorities are still searching for a third man, Russell Montalvo-Fernandez, 38, of Philadelphia, for who there is an arrest warrant in connection with the incident.
Feb. 2 – At 5:06 a.m., Upper Dublin police were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Girard Avenue for a disturbance and found Johnny Johnson, 49, suffering a fatal stab wound to the neck. Jules Demetris Ross Jr., 26, of the same address, is awaiting court action on a charge of first-degree murder.
March 7 - Lila Frost, 78, and Lorraine Gigliello, 68, were fatally beaten inside Frost’s home in the first block of West Indian Lane in the Port Indian section of West Norriton. The bodies of the women were discovered on March 10 when West Norriton police responded to a neighbor’s call for a wellness check at the Frost residence. Naseema Sami, 44, of Folsom, Delaware County, and her son were found hiding underneath a bed in the residence. Sami is awaiting trial in connection with the alleged double-murder.
March 30 – Keith Robinson, 41, of Pottstown, was found fatally shot about 10:45 p.m. as he sat in the driver’s seat of his car in
Sean Patrick Emmell, 25, of Pottstown, is escorted from Montgomery County Court where he was sentenced to 22½-to45-years in prison after he pleaded guilty to a third-degree murder charge in connection with the Jan. 3 fatal knife attack of 20-year-old Joshua Shupard, of Gilbertsville.
the 100 block of York Street. Four Pottstown men, Derrick Goins, 26, Elijah Davis, 18, Jaquan Marquis “Swizz” Lee, 25, and Kyshan Scott Brinkley, 23, are awaiting trial on charges of firstand third-degree murder for their alleged roles in the fatal shooting.
April 2 – At 10:53 p.m. Norristown police responded to a report of “gunshots and screaming” at an apartment in the 300 block of East Fornance Street and found Alonzo J. Anthony, 28, in an apartment hallway, dead from gunshot wounds, according to a criminal complaint. Brandon M. “B-Dubb” Thompson, 32, who listed addresses in Harleysville and Norristown, is awaiting trial for his alleged role in the deadly home invasion robbery.
April 13 - Stephen Klampfer, 50, of Norristown, an inmate at the county jail in Lower Providence, died in a hospital where he was taken after being beaten at the jail on March 30, according to court papers. Authorities subsequently charged Joseph Michael Hodum, 38, of Philadelphia, another inmate at the jail, with murder and assault in connection with fatally stomping on Klampfer’s head while they shared a cell at the jail.
However, Hodum died at the jail on July 27 and the cause of death was determined to be hanging and the manner of death was determined to be suicide.
April 16 – Shortly after 1 a.m., James Madison, 41, of Pottstown, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the torso inside his apartment in the 100 block of North Charlotte Street. Authorities said Madison’s roommate, Darryl “Omar” McMillian, 37, shot Madison during an argument about money. In
Naseema Sami
July 2019, McMillian was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of thirddegree murder and person not to possess a firearm in connection with the slaying.
April 21 – At 12:26 p.m. Easter Sunday, Pottstown police responded to a reported shooting in the 600 block of Industrial Highway and found 25-year-old Joshua Alexander Smith suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Smith was transported to Pottstown Hospital Tower Health where he was pronounced dead. Stephen Moore, 32, of the 400 block of Chestnut Street, Pottstown, is awaiting trial on charges of first – and third-degree murder in connection with the crime.
April 25 – A domestic violence-related shooting in Montgomery Township was ruled to be a murder-suicide. Authorities identified the victims as Chung Won and his wife Sun Won.
May 20 – At 2:14 a.m. Norristown police were dispatched to a residence in the 800 block of Smith Street for a report of a stabbing and found 58-year-old Charles Dewalt lying in a parking lot at the rear of the residence “with a visible stab wound to his chest,” according to a criminal complaint. Dewalt was pronounced dead at a local hospital and an autopsy determined Dewalt died from a stab wound to the chest. In June 2020, Jacqueline Janis Jackson, 36, who lived with Dewalt, was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to a charge of thirddegree murder.
June 28 – Authorities charged Marquis Thomas, 33, of the 1300 block of Needham Circle, Hatfield, with first- and third-degree murder in connection with the Oct. 18, 2016, death of 4-year-old Kailee Bunrout, who was the daughter of Thomas’ live-in girlfriend. Authorities alleged Thomas beat and strangled the child. Thomas has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is awaiting trial.
Sept. 22 - Juan Tox Caal, 19, of Norristown, was charged with firstdegree murder for the alleged stabbing death of his brother-in-law, Rolando Popsacul, 22, also of Norristown, during an argument. At 2:07 a.m. Norristown police responded to a disturbance in the vicinity of Haws Avenue and West Airy Street, according to court documents. Police found Popsacul suffering a stab wound and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Caal is awaiting trial.
Sept. 23 – An investigation began about 8:27 a.m. when Pottstown police responded to a report of a shooting in the unit block of Scott Street. Arriving officers found Otis Harris, 31, of Pottstown, on the sidewalk in front of a residence in the Bright Hope community suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to the head, according to court documents. Armani Cortez Rhedrick, 20, of Pottstown, is awaiting trial on a charge of first-degree murder.
Nov. 18 – Three family members were found dead by Springfield Township police in a residence along Erdenheim Road following a requested wellness check. The deaths of Robert McIntyre, 71, and Sheila Dolan, 71, were ruled homicides and the manner of death for their daughter, Julia McIntyre, 27, was suicide, according to authorities. Mr. McIntyre and Dolan suffered stab wounds and blunt impact injuries to the head and the cause of death for Julia McIntyre was a self-inflicted stab wound to the neck.
Nov. 25 - William Tomas Torres, 61, of Elkton, Md., was charged with firstand third-degree murder in connection with the alleged 5:24 p.m. fatal shooting of his ex-girlfriend, 57-year-old Jeanne Edwards, at her residence along the 2300 block of Dale Road in Lower Moreland. Limerick Township police arrested Torres a short time later at a private residence in that township and he is awaiting trial.
Dec. 23 – Maximillian Christopher Han, 27, of the 1800 block of Hood Lane in the Ambler section of Upper Dublin, was charged with first- and third-degree murder in connection with the 1:58 p.m. fatal beating of his 58-year-old father, Jinhan, during an argument. Han is awaiting court action on the charges. An autopsy determined that Jinhan died as a result of multiple blunt and sharp injuries and the manner of death was listed as homicide.
“Our 53 attorneys, 39 county detectives and professional and support staff are dedicated to serving the residents of Montgomery County and keeping this county the vibrant, livable and safe place it is. We are dedicated to fairly and thoroughly investigating crime, following the evidence where it leads and charging accordingly.” — District Attorney Kevin R. Steele