Authorities in Pennsylvania say four individuals are facing criminal charges related to the stabbing death of the grandfather of one suspect.
According to Fox News, police say three suspects — including the victim’s granddaughter — had been arrested as of the latest updates available. Officers located them on Thursday at a hotel in the Wilkes-Barre area.
The 71-year-old man was found dead in his Edwardsville home on Wednesday, two days after police say he was stabbed in the neck and beaten with a golf club. Concerned relatives had reportedly started searching for him earlier on the day his body was found underneath a dresser in a room on the second floor.
Officials identified the deceased as Joseph Monka, as reported by WNEP. His granddaughter, 17-year-old Gabriella Elizabeth Long, allegedly enlisted her boyfriend, 19-year-old Christopher Brian Cortez, along with 20-year-old Devin Malik Cunningham and 16-year-old Mercedes Lin Hall, to carry out the homicide.
Investigators believe their motive was the $30,000 missing from a safe in the basement and the car they allegedly stole.
Neighbors agreed with the assessment of officials including Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Jarrett Ferrentino, who lamented the “sad situation” in a statement this week.
“We do have a victim’s granddaughter charged with his murder and conspiracy to commit murder and it was motivated by money,” he said.
[Featured image: Gabriella Long, video screenshot]
