HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The Luzerne County District Attorney has released more information about a woman whose body was found burning in Hazleton Sunday morning.
District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce confirmed the woman was Jessica Lockwood, 39, who had been reported missing from Frackville, Schuylkill County.
On April 29, an autopsy was conducted by the Luzerne County Coroner's Office. Lockwood's cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma and a gunshot wound. Her death has been ruled a homicide.
According to the Harwood Fire Company, Lockwood was a volunteer firefighter and an ambulance technician.
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Lockwood's body was found burning around 7:00 a.m. Sunday on Club 40 Road in Hazleton.
Firefighters responded to a report of a mannequin on fire; however, after extinguishing the flames, they found the reported mannequin was actually a human body.
Later in the investigation, detectives were led to a house in the 100 block of Muir Avenue. Police say the house was searched in connection to the death, though they have not said how.
“Based on what we know so far in the investigation, we do not believe this is a random attack, so no, there should be no danger to the public. This is an incident that a person was specifically targeted,” Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce explained on Monday.
Sanguedolce says the investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Hazleton City detectives’ tip line at 570-450-2080 or contact them through the Hazleton Police Department Crimewatch page.
The death of a woman whose body was found burning near Hazleton Sunday morning is a homicide. Investigators identify the murder victim as 39-year-old Jessica Lockwood from Frackville, Schuylkill County.
As the investigation into Lockwood's murder moves forward, the community is reacting.
The body of Jessica Lockwood was found burning here along Club 40 Road at around 7:00 a.m. Sunday. An autopsy determined she died from a gunshot wound and blunt force trauma.
This is the obituary of 39-year-old Jessica Lockwood. Investigators say she was reported missing from Frackville.
A man driving along Club 40 Road Sunday morning saw something burning along the road. He first thought it was a mannequin. He called 911. Firefighters discovered it was a body.
Later that day, as the investigation, intensified police searched a home on Muir Avenue, which is in the heights section of the city.
Detectives will only say it's part of the homicide investigation. Mehalshick went to the home Thursday trying to talk with someone about why the police were searching the place.
We heard voices inside, as we drove away, someone was waving goodbye from a side window.
Jim Ferry lives on Club 40 Road, he says neighbors just want answers.
"Well my thoughts are like everybody with an investigative mind, I want to know, you know, hear details: who, how, why. If any of those could be answered, I'd like to know those things just for curiosity sake and also it will give some sense of closure and safety to hear something that such a death didn't have anything to do with this neighborhood for instance," expressed Ferry.
Mike Zukowski takes walks along Club 40 Road.
"It's a shame what happened. You know, why would you want to go and do something so stupid as that to burn a body. It started off as a mannequin. Well yeah let it be a burning mannequin not a human that's just bad," stated Zukowski.
Lockwood was a volunteer firefighter with the Harwood Fire Company near Hazleton. The fire company posted a statement on its Facebook page announcing her death and how she was dedicated to a life of selflessness, compassion, and charity.
Police say this was an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public.
Investigators are not commenting on a possible suspect. Search warrants have been sealed by the court.
If you have any information about the case you are urged to call Hazleton City Police.
