DA: Cambria County man facing homicide charge found dead in cell

CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A man facing homicide charges was found dead in his cell in the Cambria County Prison on Wednesday.

Douglas Yonker, 57, was found unresponsive on Oct. 9, with efforts to revive him by on-site medical professionals and EMS unsuccessful, according to Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer. Yonker’s death was determined to be an apparent suicide.

Yonker was facing homicide charges after being accused of murdering a woman, Lenna Azzoli, 40, in Johnstown. Since Yonker is now deceased, the case is considered closed, according to Neugebauer.

“Law enforcement wishes we could give Ms. Azzoli’s family and friends the closure that justice can bring, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost a loved one,” Neugebauer said.

Yonker was originally arraigned on Friday, Sept. 20 after police arrived at a residence on K Street on reports of gunshots. When police arrived, they found Yonker to have injuries to his head and Azzoli dead.

He had told police that he was on the porch with Azzoli when a car came past the two and a man fired two shots. Yonker claimed that he returned fire at the vehicle, however, police noted that the firearm found on the porch had blood on it that coincided with close fire.

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Police said that Azzoli had at least five gunshot wounds to the right abdomen and leg, with them being described as large with stippling, meaning that she was shot at close range. A neighbor told police that she heard arguing followed by multiple “pops” so she went to look out her window and saw someone on the porch go into the home and turn the lights off.

Yonker was facing charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and tampering with evidence. He was in the Cambria County Prison, where bail was denied.

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