Husband charged in wife’s murder

HAMBURG >> More than eight months after his wife’s body was found strangled to death in their Hamburg home, state police have charged Gary Lenkiewicz with her murder.

The charges against Lenkiewicz, 57, were announced Friday afternoon by state police at the Hamburg barracks.

Hamburg Borough Police were dispatched to the couple’s home in the 400 block of Fifth Street on Feb. 17 just after 5 p.m.

There they found the body of Suzanne Lenkiewicz, 58, dead and her husband with stab wounds. State police were called in to assist.

Six days later Gary Lenkiewicz was released from the hospital.

An autopsy was performed at the Reading Hospital on Feb. 19 and it was determined the cause of death was manual strangulation and the manner of death was ruled homicide, according to a release issued Friday by state police.

Charges of criminal homicide, murder of the first degree, murder of the third degree, aggravated assault, and strangulation were filed against Gary Lenkiewicz, according to the press release.

Troopers said the couple had a history of domestic incidents.

The release offered no explanation for the eightmonth delay in bringing charges and state police could not be reached for additional comment.

Gary Lenkiewicz was arraigned before District Judge Kim Bagenstose and sent to Berks County Prison. There is no bail in homicide cases.