New details in homeless camp homicide investigation

HAZLE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — 28/22 News is learning more Monday about a homicide investigation in Luzerne County.

Human remains were found in a wooded area near Hazleton . The coroner says the victim died from blunt force trauma.

28/22 News learned the remains, which have not yet been identified, were found near or in a homeless camp and went there Monday looking for answers.

“They just said they found a body. They asked how long I stay there. I said almost a month,” a homeless man said.

The homeless man, who did not want to be identified, described what he saw last Wednesday when state police converged on a wooded area just off Route 309 north of Hazleton.

“When I first came in, a cop came in, talked about saying that somebody stumbled over a body, something like that. They didn’t say who it was or female or male,” the homeless man continued.

28/22 News talked to a homeless woman who did not want to be seen. She was inside a tent.

“What do you think about this situation?” 28/22 News I-Team Reporter Andy Mehalshick asked.

“I was told the gentleman that found him found him with a tarp over his body,” the homeless woman explained.

An autopsy determined that the person died from blunt force trauma to the head. Destiny Damblu works near the area where the remains were found.

“It’s kind of scary because well I do walk home. It just makes me more anxious, nervous, especially if it’s been there a long time,” Damblu said.

People who live in a nearby senior community did not want to talk about it saying they were too upset.

State police investigators appealed to the public for help.

“If anybody out there has any information on this, this is a secluded area in a wooded area. If somebody knows something to come forward. Trying to get closure for the victim, the victim’s family, just do the right thing,” Pennsylvania State Police Hazleton Trooper Anthony Petroski explained.

State troopers have not said if have been able to determine the gender of the homicide victim.

Anyone with information can call Pennsylvania State Police Hazleton at 570-459-3890.

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