Corry Woman Stabs Husband
Corry – A 58-year-old Corry Woman has been charged with first-degree homicide and related offenses after she told the police that she stabbed her husband. On Friday morning, about eight hours after the act, Kellie Hellmann walked into the lobby of the Corry Police Department, covered in blood, to tell the receptionists that she had stabbed her husband while he slept in a recliner at about midnight on Thursday night then left the house and locked the door. Police discovered the body of her husband Paul inside the living room of their home with a single stab wound to his chest. She is being held in Erie County Prison and was denied bail.
Last year in November Kellie Hellmann was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and fleeing and eluding police. She was released for those charges on $50,000 bail and was awaiting trial.
PA’s Biggest Healthcare Provider Wants to Expand
Pittsburgh – Healthcare giant UPMC is looking to acquire Washington Health System, the largest medical provider in Washington and Greene Counties. UPMC is the largest healthcare provider in the commonwealth, as well as the largest nongovernmental employer. As part of its filing with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) UPMC claimed that it handles more than 40% of all the outpatient healthcare in Western Pennsylvania and runs 40 Hospitals in 29 counties. If the merger is approved UPMC would acquire two more hospitals and 24 associated clinics and laboratories.
Last Thursday, the Pennsylvania Attorney General held a public hearing about the merger and most of the comments were favorable, but the merger needs to be approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the FTC which could take a long time because of the volumes of records that need to be reviewed. The proposed merger is being opposed by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the SEIU Healthcare Union which represents nurses and other hospital employees around the state. SEIU filed a 56-page brief with the Trade Commission arguing that UPMC holds a monopoly in violation of antitrust laws.
Death Investigation
Sharon – An investigation is underway in Mercer County as authorities try to determine the cause of an Ohio teenager’s death in Sharon on Sunday. According to Mercer County Coroner John Lobonoti, 16-year-old Zachariah Croom of Youngstown was found deceased on an outdoor stairwell not far from West Hill Elementary School Sunday afternoon. Zachariah’s remains will be taken to Erie County for a forensic investigation; in the meantime, anyone who may have information should call the Sharon Police Department at (724)983-3210 or Mercer County Dispatch’s non-emergency number at (724)662-6110.
State News: Man Stabs Neighbor for Snoring
Hatboro – A Hatboro man has been accused of murdering his next-door neighbor over a dispute about loud snoring. Christopher Casey was charged with third-degree homicide over the weekend; police say that he used a large cutting knife to stab his next-door neighbor whose apartment abutted his own. Casey had been involved in a months long dispute with the the victim, Robert Wallace, about their loud snoring which Casey could apparently hear through the walls of his bedroom every night. The dispute turned physical and then deadly on Sunday.