Gertrude Price
Anthony Joseph Spudis
Nanticoke homicide suspect would qualify for death penalty
By Ed Lewis
The Wilkes Barre Times-Leader
WILKES-BARRE — A state inmate charged with stabbing a 97-year-old woman to death with a screwdriver more than four years ago could face the death penalty if Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis elects to pursue it.
While the judicial clock for Luzerne County prosecutors began Thursday when they charged Anthony Joseph Spudis, 35, with an open count of criminal homicide, prosecutors have until the formal arraignment to notify the court if they intend to seek Spudis’ death.
But prosecutors must pass their first test at a preliminary hearing tentatively set for Jan. 15, where they must convince a district judge that enough evidence exists to send the case to trial. A formal arraignment is scheduled if the case advances out of district court.
Spudis’ case qualifies for the death penalty as he allegedly killed Gertrude Price during the commission of a felony — in this case, robbery and burglary — which is an aggravating circumstance. Spudis is also facing robbery and burglary charges in addition to the criminal homicide count.
There are 18 separate aggravating circumstances in Pennsylvania for prosecutors to seek the death penalty if there is a conviction of first-degree murder.
Salavantis could not be reached for comment Friday.
Spudis is accused of killing neighbor Price inside the woman’s petite residence on West Grand Street in Nanticoke on Nov. 28, 2013.
State Police at Wyoming and Nanticoke police alleged Spudis used a screwdriver to force open a basement window at Price’s residence, and proceeded to ransack the place.
Investigators allege when Spudis was confronted by Price, he stabbed her in the face multiple times with the screwdriver.
Spudis continued to ransack Price’s home before leaving, only to return after confiding in his girlfriend, Tayrn Simms.
Investigators say when Simms accompanied Spudis to Price’s home, they found the elderly woman not breathing on a bed.
Simms has not been charged in the case.
Investigators previously believed the killer entered Price’s home through a ground-level basement window sometime between 10:30 p.m. Nov. 28, 2013, and 9:35 a.m. the next day. State Police said neighbors reported lights were turned on at Price’s home at about 11 p.m. Nov. 28, which they said was not normal.
Reward funds
Soon after the discovery of Price’s body, separate reward funds were established.
Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers, a non-profit organization, featured Price on its website Dec. 5, 2013, indicating a possible $2,500 cash reward for information needed to solve the case.
Former Nanticoke police officer Kevin Grevera set up a fund with $1,000 from his own pocket, which quickly grew to more than $10,000 due to donations and fundraisers, including a Zumbathon at Nanticoke Fitness Center and Tanning that raised more than $1,100.
Grevera’s fund was managed by a committee with the Fraternal Order of Eagles and set up at PNC Bank. Grevera could not be reached for comment Friday
to determine what will happen to the reward.
http://www.timesleader.com/news/6865...-death-penalty
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