Arsonist 'Threatened To Kill Several People With A Knife,' Lancaster County, Police Say
A 44-year-old man with seven separate convictions over 25 years— including arson for setting the apartment he shared with his girlfriend and children on fire— pulled out a knife and threatened to kill people in Columbia, Pennsylvania, according to area police.
Charles Edward Swanigan, Jr. was arrested after witnesses told the police that he "threatened to kill several people with a knife," in the 600 block of Fairview Avenue, Columbia at approximately 10:56 a.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, area police say.
He was charged with two counts of terroristic threats and was held in the…
PA Son Kills Mom Over Purse, Crashing While Fleeing In Her Stolen Car, Police Say
A 26-year-old Lancaster County man confessed on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, to the police that he strangled his mom during a fight over her purse, then took her keys out of her purse, stole her car and fled, police say.
Many friends of 62-year-old Lois Gift thought her absence from events she regularly attended was very odd so they called the Ephrata police and requested a welfare check on Monday, March 20, 2023— that's when her body was discovered at her home on Grant Road in Adamstown, according to the police release following the confession.
The coroner determined her cause of death…
Welder Sets Former Employer's Cars On Fire Twice In One Day, Police In LanCo. Say
A welder who lost his job apparently wanted his former employee to feel the fire of the fury he was going through, literally— igniting multiple cars on fire, puncturing over 25 tires, and causing property damage to the Lancaster County business, authorities say.
The ex-employee, 36-year-old John Derek Hays, 36, of Akron, lost his job at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing & Heating in East Hempfield Township on Monday, March 6, 2023, according to East Hempfield Township Police.
In total, 10 vehicles had the tires and two of the vehicles were completely destroyed by the fires at&n…
