Suicide by Hammer Ruled in Man's Bizarre Death

A Williams Township man died as a result of self-inflicted hammer blows to his head, officials have determined

Michael Muretta struggled for years with mental illness. His struggle reached a horrific end last August when the 47-year-old Williams Township man struck himself in the head with a hammer, causing fatal injuries. That was the conclusion reached by investigators looking into Muretta's death, Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said Thursday. At a news conference at his office, Morganelli told reporters that Muretta's history --combined with physical evidence at his home and no evidence of anyone who wished him harm -- will lead the coroner to rule his death a suicide. It's not clear whether Murettta intended to kill himself. The hammer blows may have been a response to the symptoms of the schizophrenia Muretta suffered …

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Armed Citizen

8:45 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013

According to the article, it's the guy who stabbed his neighbor back in '86 but was deemed insane. Very bizarre all around.   more ›

Suicide Victim Found by Family

Police searched Alburtis and southwest corner of Lower Macungie Township on foot and by helicopter Wednesday trying to find missing man.

A missing Lower Macungie Township man was found dead Thursday afternoon in woods in the township, according to police. The Lehigh County Coroner's Office ruled the death a suicide, but neither the coroner's Office nor police reported the circumstances. David John Fried, 41, of 2171 Pembrooke Drive was found dead about 3 p.m. in woods behind 3650 Schoeneck Road in the township, according to state police at Fogelsville. He was pronounced dead at 3:43 p.m., according to Chief Deputy Coroner Paul Hoffman. Fried was reported missing Wednesday from the area of Lockridge Park in Alburtis. A search of the area by several police departments and rescue agencies failed to find Fried. He was found by family members who also were searching for him, …

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Shoplifter, 23, Commits Suicide in Jail After Multiple Arrests

A shoplifter hanged himself in county jail after allegedly stealing from both Palmer Park Mall and Lehigh Valley Mall.

About 10 days before he killed himself in a Lehigh County Prison cell Monday, a 23-year-old former Tatamy resident was charged in a shoplifting incident at Palmer Park Mall for which he was not jailed. But Justin Lee Bowyer was sent to Lehigh County Prison after a Nov. 9 (Friday) shoplifting incident at JC Penney in Lehigh Valley Mall, according to The Morning Call. That incident was his third retail theft arrest, The Call said. The Call story lists Bowyer’s address as 537 N. Fountain St., Allentown, which is near 9th and Allen streets. The criminal complaint for Bowyer’s Palmer Park Mall arrest on Nov. 2 lists his address as 627 Broad St., Tatamy. The complaint also states the incident was his second retail theft offense. In the Palmer …

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Pennsylvania State Police Reports

Driver Badly Hurt in Failed Upper Milford Suicide Attempt

Mental health evaluation ordered for Allentown-area driver, police say.

An Allentown-area woman was seriously injured March 28 when she intentionally slammed her pickup truck into a utility pole in Upper Milford Township, according to police. The driver, identified only as a 47-year-old female from Allentown, was trapped in the truck and had to be extricated by rescuers from the Emmaus Fire Department, according to state police at Fogelsville. She intended to harm herself, police said. The pole snapped in half, exposing live wires in the 8:58 p.m. accident at 3795 John St., police said. She received substantial injuries and was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. Crisis Intervention was contacted and she was committed for a mental health evaluation.

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