You Don't NEED a Gun to Commit Multiple (4) Murders (PA)
Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 5:19 am
Linkarooni - our condolences to all those people's family and friends. What a terrible thing to have to experience, having an entire family basically wiped out by some DICKHEAD - 'cause he couldn't control his emotions.
ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE:
ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE:
Man charged in Pa. stabbing rampage that killed 4
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM, Associated Press Writer
(Photos & descriptions at the website)
Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 12:46 p.m.
NORTHAMPTON, Pa. — A 36-year-old man has been charged with fatally stabbing four people in a house in eastern Pennsylvania.
Police charged Michael Eric Ballard with four counts of homicide for Saturday's rampage in Northampton.
Authorities said Sunday that Ballard killed 39-year-old Denise Merhi, her father and her grandfather along with a neighbor who rushed over to help when he heard the initial screams from Merhi's house.
Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli says he will seek the death penalty.
Confidantes say Merhi and Ballard dated briefly about two years ago.
Court documents say Ballard told police he "murdered (his) girlfriend and her family and then the neighbor."
Police named the other victims as 62-year-old Dennis Marsh, 87-year-old Alvin Marsh Jr., and their 53-year-old neighbor, Steven Zernhelt.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
NORTHAMPTON, Pa. (AP) - Confidantes of a woman found stabbed to death along with three other people in her house in eastern Pennsylvania say the victim dated the man suspected in the rampage.
Nicole Young identified her close friend, Denise Merhi, as one of the victims of Saturday's deadly attack in Northampton borough.
Young and Merhi's cousin, Desiray Dolly, told The Associated Press on Sunday that Merhi dated the suspect briefly about two years ago. Authorities have not released the suspect's name but planned a news conference later Sunday.
Another victim has been identified as 53-year-old Steven Zernhelt, Merhi's next-door neighbor. David Zernhelt says his brother rushed over to help when he heard screaming from Zerhi's house and was stabbed to death as he got through the front door.