Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Man ordered to stand trial in home invasion case that authorities say led to Wilson woman's death.
Carrie Smith's voice, recorded two months before her death, was filled with terror. "Please come quick, I was robbed," the Wilson grandmother told the 911 operator in a tape played Wednesday at a preliminary hearing for one of the accused robbers. "They made me open my safe. Please help me before they come back." Police showed up within minutes, but prosecutors say the damage was done. They say stress of the gunpoint robbery caused Smith to suffer a heart attack, which caused her health to decline until she died on March 16, 2012. Her death was ruled a homicide. And now, one of those accused robbers—30-year-old Rogel Suero of Allentown—is headed to trial for allegedly robbing, threatening, assaulting and ultimately killing the 76-year-old …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Rogel Suero is accused of causing a woman's fatal heart attack during Wilson robbery.
A man accused of committing a home invasion that essentially scared a Wilson woman to death is behind bars. Rogel Suero, 30, was arraigned on homicide charges Tuesday before District Judge Richard Yetter in Wilson, according to the judge's office. Police say Suero and another man -- who they've yet to identify -- broke into the home of Carrie Smith last January to steal from her safe. Smith, 76, suffered a heart attack during the robbery, and died two months later. Suero was arrested earlier this month by U.S. Marshals in Texas. Smith's 28-year-old granddaughter, Rebecca Johnson, is accused of helping organize the robbery. At her preliminary hearing last week, Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek testified that the heart attack caused…
Friday, February 15, 2013
Deadly Wilson home invasion moves to Northampton County Court.
Before the robbery, Carrie Smith was a senior citizen who helped other senior citizens, driving them to and from appointments. Then on Jan. 15, 2012, two men broke into her home, threatened her with a gun and frightened her so much she had a heart attack, which caused her health to decline for two months until she died. Essentially, the robbery scared Carrie Smith to death. That's according Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek, who testified Friday in a preliminary hearing for Rebecca Johnson, Smith's granddaughter and—prosecutors say—one of the architects of the robbery that killed the 76-year-old Wilson woman. "She needed constant care and attention," following the robbery, Lysek said. "She functioned perfectly fine prior to Jan. 15…
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Carrie Smith, 76, died of heart trouble brought on by assault, robbery in her home, coroner says.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Saturday, October 13, 2012
Northampton County's coroner has ruled a Wilson woman's death a homicide, according to published reports. In January, Carrie Smith, 76, was robbed and assaulted in her home on Hillside Avenue, and suffered a heart attack soon after. She died two months later. On Friday, coroner Zachary Lysek said the death was caused by exacerbation of those heart problems, WFMZ reports. District Attorney John Morganelli tells the TV station he is looking into whether homicide charges will be filed against two people in custody for the robbery: Smith's 28-year-old granddaughter Rebecca Johnson, and 18-year-old David Bechtold. They are in Northmapton County Prison on charges of robbery, burglary, aggravated assault and theft. This was Wilson's first …
Michelle Phoenix
11:06 pm on Sunday, May 5, 2013
Well, as the daughter of Carrie Smith, and the mother of Rebecca Johnson, I agree. The police and DA's office have done a wonderful job. If my mother had gotten medical care sooner, I believe she would still be here with us today. As a nurse I know with any MI, time is heart muscle.. My daughter was not raised to be this way,. PLEASE teach your children about the dangers of addiction. Hopefully … more ›