Deadly year

Jan. 1, 2011

(As 2010 draws to a close, The News is counting down the Top 10 local stories of the year. Today: No. 1)

By PATRICK E. LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com

With six possible homicides occurring in New Castle during the past year, the city tops an undesirable list.

A survey of 14 communities similar in size finds New Castle ranks first with McKeesport in number of murders.

“I remember working a lot of homicides, but I don’t remember that kind of a number,” said police Chief Thomas Sansone, a veteran of 25 years.

The number of deaths investigated by Sansone’s department is an unusual amount for a city of approximately 24,500.

Prior to 2010, the highest number of murders in the city occurred in 2005 when four were reported.

One ongoing investigation here involves a 71-year-old man who died in a wooded area.

“We don’t know if we can call it a (hunting) accident or not,” said Sansone.

“There really is no rhyme or reason as to whether you have an increase or decrease in murders in a given year,” Sansone said.

THE CASES

Following is the list of victims.

•Kaelin Davis, 11 months old, of Halco Drive died on May 31. The cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma to the head.

Facing five charges, including criminal homicide, the 23-year-old William Henry Hess Jr. is being held without bail in the Lawrence County jail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Jan. 12.

•Frank James Breitenstein, 45, of Volant died the evening of Aug. 28 near 314 Bell Ave. Breitenstein was shot with a BB gun after he confronted a male youth shooting at houses.

A BB was removed from Breitenstein’s lung during his autopsy. No one has been charged in the death, but police have identified two potential suspects.

•Melvin Harper, 26, of New Castle died as the results of gunshot wounds. His death occurred between 2 and 3 a.m. Sept. 17 in the parking lot of Wise Guyz, 1115 N. Croton Ave.

Davven Eric Malloy, 20, of Pittsburgh, was wanted in connection with Harper’s death. He committed suicide around midnight Nov. 22 at a Westover, W.Va., motel.

•Edward Wooten, 39, of Parkwood Court was killed as the result of a single gunshot to the abdomen. The incident took place around 2:25 a.m. Nov. 21 in the parking lot of the Players Lounge, a South Mill Street bar. Wooten died at Jameson Hospital.

Michael L. Williams, 34, was arrested Dec. 10. Williams, who lists addresses on South Liberty Street and in Sharpsville, is in county jail on eight charges that include criminal homicide and aggravated assault. Williams’ court hearing is slated for 1 p.m. Jan. 27.

•Trevaughn Lamont Thompson, 19, of Westview Terrace was killed following a volley of gunfire around 11:30 a.m. Nov. 30, 2010, while driving along Halco Drive. He was pronounced dead almost nine hours later at Youngstown’s St. Elizabeth Health Center.

City police charged Tavin Lamar Wise, 19, of Halco Drive with 26 offenses that include criminal homicide and aggravated assault. He is being held without bail in the county jail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Jan. 6.

•Leroy W. Blashak Jr., 71, of 310 Montgomery Ave. died Nov. 29. His body was found in a Mahoningtown field. Police said a bullet entered Blashak’s right shoulder.

Authorities are working with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to determine if the shooting involved a hunter and if it was intentional.

THE POLICE

No connection is apparent among the deaths. In the killings of Harper, Thompson and Wooten, Sansone said that a common group of family, friends and acquaintances existed among the three. However, that played no role in their murders.

“It’s just a coincidence,” he said.

Nor is an influx of weapons to blame.

“I think they’ve always been available. The people that do have them aren’t thinking. They’re just pulling them out and using them.”

A state study conducted as part of the city’s financial recovery plan backs Sansone’s view that the department is understaffed. Last year, New Castle had 35 full-time and three part-time officers. Ten more are needed.

“Naturally, we can’t afford it,” he said. “However, that shows our officers are doing a good job with the manpower they have.”

Sansone also countered a perception that New Castle is a place where people can get away with murder. Excluding the Blashak investigation, charges have been filed in all but three cases dating back to 2005.

“We do have suspects, but we just need enough information to file the charge and that’s where we’re stuck. I think our clearance rate for what we’re dealing with is pretty good.”

Sansone said his officers will continue to patrol high crime areas in an effort to keep those sections under control.

“Are you going to prevent it? Not necessarily,” Sansone said. “It takes about 10 seconds to murder someone.”

COMPARISON
Homicides by city

Following are the number of homicides committed in Pennsylvania communities of similar size to New Castle, which had an approximate population of 24,500 in 2009. The totals are from Jan. 1, 2010, through Dec. 28, 2010. 

•McKeesport 6
•New Castle 6*
•Lebanon 4
•Easton 1
•Horsham Township (Montgomery County) 1
•Susquehanna Township (Dauphin County) 1
•Johnstown 0
•Marple Township (Delaware County)
•Montgomery Township (Montgomery County) 0
•Springettsbury Township (York County) 0
•Spring Township (Berks County) 0
•Tredyffrin Township (Chester County) 0
•Upper Dublin Township (Montgomery County) 0
•Upper Moreland Township (Montgomery County) 0
*(Includes one death that is under investigation as a possible hunting accident)

Pittsburgh reported 57 murders in 2010. The city, with approximately 312,000 residents, is an hour south of New Castle.

Twenty killings occurred in Youngstown during 2010. Located 20 minutes northeast of New Castle, Youngstown has a population of approximately 72,000.
 
(Sources: Right-to-know requests filed with the above police departments, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Youngstown Police Department and New Castle News archives.)


THROUGH THE YEARS
New Castle killings
 
•2000 – 2
•2001 – 2
•2002 – 2
•2003 – 2
•2004 – 3
•2005 – 4
•2006 – 3
•2007 – 1
•2008 – 2
•2009 – 2
•2010 – 6*

*(includes one death that is under investigation as a possible hunting accident.)
 
(Sources: New Castle police department and the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System)