HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A man wanted for the brutal murder of a Luzerne County woman remains locked up in a New York prison. Prosecutors say efforts are underway to bring 55-year-old Terence Ray back to northeastern Pennsylvania to answer to murder and other charges.
Ray is scheduled for an extradition hearing Wednesday morning that will determine when Ray will be brought back to northeastern Pennsylvania.
28/22 News can tell you family and friends of Jessica Lockwood say they just want him back here, they want justice for Jessica.
Ray was captured last Thursday morning at a hotel in Westchester County, New York, near New York City.
He was on the run for 11 days, fleeing Hazleton after police say he murdered 39-year-old Jessica Lockwood inside his Muir Avenue home in Hazleton Heights.
An autopsy shows she died from a gunshot wound and blunt force trauma. Ray then allegedly set her body on fire along Club 40 Road in Hazleton.
Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce says they are working to bring Ray back to answer for Lockwood's death.
"We have made a demand for his delivery. He now has, he will be provided counsel. He has a right to waive that hearing, which we call extradition. If he does not waive, then we'll go up there and we'll put on evidence that he in fact was in Pennsylvania and committed this crime. If he waives, then that hearing becomes not necessary. He'll be delivered in a shorter time period," Sanguedolce explained.
Sanguedolce says this is one of the most brutal crimes he has ever investigated.
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"Certainly, death by blunt force trauma tends to be more brutal, bloody. Unfortunately, in this case, I think the fact that she was later set on fire is an added element that make it seem a lot more brutal. Although we determined that she was not still alive when she was set on fire," Sanguedolce added.
The murder is the talk of the area. Barber Brandon Kotansky would often cut Lockwood's son's hair.
"Every time they came in here, it was always a good time. She would bring her daughter in. It would be, you know, a great time. For something of that nature to happen to her is pretty crazy to think about, you know," Kotansky told 28/22 News.
There is no indication at this point in time if Ray will waive his extradition hearing.
If he does, he could be back in Luzerne County by the end of the week.
