Dunmore Police Chief Salvatore Marchese tells 28/22 News that they, along with the Lackawanna County DA, are actively investigating a death at the Dunmore Elementary Center after a man died in the school on August 27.
Detectives announced they have arrested Christine Hessmiller, 39, of Dunmore, and charged her with involuntary manslaughter, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person.
Lackawanna County Prison
Lackawanna County Coroner Timothy Rowland identified the victim as 81-year-old Gary Porter.
Dunmore School District Superintendent, John Marichak, told us Porter, who was part of a contracted cleaning crew, died in the school one day before students returned to begin the school year.
Police began investigating on August 30 and said surveillance footage showed an altercation between Porter and Hesssmiller. Camera footage showed Hessmiller and Porter having a 21-second conversation near the elevators, then the two are seen pushing each other.
The affidavit states Hesmiller is seen pushing Porter backward striking him 3-4 times on his head, neck, and shoulder, and pushing him up against a wall until he is forced to sit on a chair where Hessmiler continues to grab and strike him.
Porter is seen “covering his head with both hands to protect himself from Hessmiller’s assault,” police said in court paperwork. After the assault, Hessmiller is seen talking and gesturing to Porter “in an aggressive manner” while she waits for the elevator as he walks away, officers said.
Investigators reported that Porter is then seen entering and leaving a utility closet with a yellow garbage can on wheels, he then takes a few steps before collapsing on the ground.
Hessmiller returns to the area where Porter is on the ground, however, the footage shows her walking away, returning, and then walking away again multiple times before she rolls Porter on his back and performs CPR, as stated in the affidavit.
When questioned, detectives say Hessmiller did not tell officers about the altercation with Porter before finding him unresponsive.
Through further interviews with Hessmiller, police learned she and Porter worked together for a cleaning company for years. Officers said they believe Hessmiller felt agitated whenever Porter asked where items were located when “he had already been shown where the items were.”
An autopsy was conducted and determined Porter’s death was from a “cardiorespiratory failure due to a catecholamine release due to assault,” according to the affidavit.
Hessmiller remains in the Lackawanna County Prison after she was unable to post bail.
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