On 5 November 1981, Paul Molko, 66, of Wiconisco, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was beaten and robbed in a parking lot on state game lands in Lykens Township, Dauphin County. He was found dead the next day. The coroner concluded that he died of heart failure brought on by the beating he had received. Three local men were arrested. Two of the men chose to submit to the court for punishment and the third opted to have a jury trial, which resulted in him being acquitted of the murder charge, but convicted of the robbery charge. All three men were sentenced to jail terms.
The story is told through articles that appeared in area newspapers.
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From the Pottsville Republican, 7 November 1981:
Paul Molko
Paul Molko, 67, South Street, Wiconisco, died Friday.
He was born in Wiconisco, son of the late Paul Molko and Maria [Kohlar] Molko. He was a member of Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Lykens.
Surviving are a son, William Molko, Philadelphia; five sisters, Mrs. Anna Tuminelli, Long Island, New York; Mrs. Mary Minnich, Sheridan; Mrs. Margaret Stancanelli, Queens, New York; Mrs. Kathryn Nau, Williamstown; and Mrs. Linda Tritch, Middletown; two brothers, John Molko, Camp Hill, and Joseph Molko, Wiconisco; three grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Our Lady Help of Christians Church with the Rev. Bernard P. McGinley as celebrant. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. The John M. Schultz Funeral Home, Lykens, is in charge of arrangements.
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From the Pottsville Republican, 16 November 1981:
Homicide suspect surrenders
The third suspect allegedly involved in a criminal homicide in the death of a Wiconisco man turned himself in Sunday night to state police at Lykens.
Police said Ronald E. Knauber, 19, of Walnut Street, Wiconisco, was arrested on charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and conspiracy. After being arraigned in Harrisburg, he was committed to Dauphin County Prison without bail.
On Friday, Eugene Ciesnolevicz, 22, of South Street, Lykens, and Douglas Harman, 21, of 315 Pottsville Street, Wiconisco, were arrested.
All three were linked to the death of Paul Peter Molko, of South Street, Wiconisco, whose body was found in Wiconisco Township near Lykens on November 6. The results of an autopsy indicated Molko died from heart failure due to a beating and subsequent stress.
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From the Sunbury News Item, 16 November 1981:
Suspect in slaying surrenders in Lykens
LYKENS – A 19-year-old Wiconisco man surrendered to state police here Sunday night in connection with the death of a man last week.
State police identified the man as Ronald E. Knauber, who was charged with criminal homicide, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and aggravated assault.
On Saturday police announced the arrest of two other suspects, Eugene J. Ciesnolevicz, 22, and Douglas A. Harman, 21, both of Wiconisco.
The three are charged in connection with the death of Paul P. Molko, 66, Wiconisco, whom police said died of a heart failure after the alleged beating and robbery. His body was found in a field November 6.
Knauber was arraigned before Harrisburg District Justice Truman Peters, police said. A preliminary hearing for the three suspects is tentatively set for Thursday before Elizabethville District Justice Francis Reichenbach.
The three are being held in the Dauphin County Jail. Bail has not been set, police said.
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From the Pottsville Republican, 25 November 1981:
Three held in Wiconico man’s death
Three Wiconisco men, charged in the robbery and death of 66-year-old Paul P. Molko of Wiconisco were held for court Tuesday after a preliminary hearing before District Justice Francis Reichenbach of Elizabethville.
The accused, Ronald Eugene Knauber Jr., 19, Eugene J. Ciesnolevicz, 22, and Douglas A. Harman, 21, were returned to Dauphin County Prison after the hearing.
They were jailed without bail after they were arrested on charges of aggravated assault, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and criminal homicide.
Dauphin County’s chief deputy coroner, Hubert Jones, said an autopsy indicated that heart failure was brought on by stress Molko suffered when he was robbed and assaulted November 5. His body was found November 6 in a field near Lykens.
State police at Lykens and Wiconisco Township Police Chief Randy Wynn investigated the case.
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From the Pottsville Republican, 20 February 1982:
Car hits tree
A Wiconisco man escaped injury Friday when his car veered off Route 125 and struck a tree one mile south of Tremont, state police at Pottsville said.
Police said Ronald E. Knauber Jr., 20, was driving north on Route 125 at 11:20 p.m. Friday when the accident occurred.
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From the Pottsville Republican,19 March 1982:
Acquitted in mugging death
HARRISBURG – A Wiconisco man was acquitted of criminal homicide, but found guilty of robbery in Dauphin County Court Wednesday in connection with the November 5, 1981, mugging and subsequent death of another Wiconisco resident.
Defendant Ronald E. Knauber Jr., 20, of the 500 block of Walnut Street, and two other Dauphin County men were charged in connection with the robbery and death of Paul P. Molko, 66, of 411 South Street.
A jury deliberated 2 ½ hours before acquitting Knauber of criminal homicide, aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy and finding him guilty of robbery.
Dauphin County Judge Warren G. Morgan continued Knauber’s $7,500 cash bail pending his sentencing.
The other defendants, Eugene J. Ciesnolevicz, 22, of South Street, Wiconisco, and Douglas A. Harman, pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and general charges of homicide Monday before Judge .
A degree of guilt hearing on the Ciesnolevicz’s and Harman’s homicide charges is scheduled April 1 before Lipsitt. Under a plea agreement, their charges are to be no higher than third degree murder.
Molko was attacked and robbed of $300 in cash by three men in a parking lot on state game lands north of Loyalton, Lykens Township. He wandered into the woodlands and spent the night in the cold and rain after his assaulters left.
Molko died the next day of a heart attack caused by the beating and subsequent stress, according to the Dauphin County Coroner’s Office.
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From the Sunbury Daily Item, 19 March 1982:
Man, 20, acquitted of murder charge
HARRISBURG – A 20-year-old Wiconisco man was acquitted of murder Tuesday but found guilty of robbery in connection with the November mugging and subsequent death of a 66-year-old man.
Ronald E. Knauber Jr. and two other men were charged in connection with the robbery and death of Paul Peter Molko of Wiconisco.
The Dauphin County jury deliberated more than two hours before acquitting the suspect of criminal homicide, aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy.
Knauber remains free on $7,500 bail.
The other defendants, Eugene J. Ciesnolevicz, 22, both of Wiconisco, pleaded guilty Monday to robbery and general charges of homicide. A hearing is scheduled for April 1 to determine the degree of guilt, with agreement that third-degree murder is the most serious charge possible.
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News articles are from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.
From the Sunbury Daily Item, 8 April 1982:
Pair gets 6-15 years in slaying
HARRISBURG – Two Wiconisco men Wednesday were found guilty of third-degree murder of a 66-year-old man last November and were sentenced to 6 to 15 years in a state prison.
Douglas A. Harman, 21, and Eugene J. Ciesnolevicz, 22, earlier pleaded guilty fo a general charge of criminal homicide. A court hearing was conducted to determine the degree of guilt.
Ronald E> Knauber Jr., 20, of Wiconisco, a third defendant involved in the beating death of Paul Molko, also of Wiconisco, was acquitted last month of criminal homicide. However, he was found guilty of robbery and faces a 10-to-20 year prison term.
Molko was beaten and robbed of $300 last November 5 in a parking lot in state game lands in Lykens Township. Molko then wandered into the woods and aftera night in the cold and rain died the following day of a heart attack.
Concurrent prison terms of 6 to15 years and 5 to 10 years were imposed on the two defendants for robbery and conspiracy.
From the Sunbury News Item, 25 August 1982:
Wiconisco man gets 4-8 years
HARRISBURG – A 20-year old Wiconisco man convicted of robbery and acquitted of murder in the same incident, was sentenced Tuesday to 4 to 8 years in a state prison.
Ronald G. Knauber Jr. was sentenced by Dauphin County Judge Warren G. Morgan. Knauber remains free on $75,000 bail pending his appeal before the state Superior Court.
During a jury trial, Knauber was convicted of robbing Paul Molko on state game lands in Lykens Township last November 5. Molko died of an apparent heart attack following the robbery.
Knauber’s two companions at the time, Eugene Ciesnolevicz of Lykens and Douglas A. Harman of WIconisco received 6 to 15 year sentences after they pleaded guilty to criminal homicide and related charges earlier this year.
From the Pottsville Republican, 26 August 1982:
Wiconisco man given jail term for robbery
HARRISBURG – Ronald G. Knauber Jr., 20, of Wiconisco, was sentenced to four to eight years in a state prison after being convicted of robbery and acquitted of murder in the same incident.
Knauber was sentenced this week by Dauphin County Judge Warren G. Morgan.
Knauber remains free on $75,000 bail pending his appear before the sate Superior Court.
During a jury trial, Knauber was convicted of robbing Paul Molko, Wiconisco, on state game lands, Lykens Township, on November 5 [1981]. Molko died after the robbery. An autopsy indicated that Molko died from heart failure due to a beating and subsequent stress.
Two companions of Knauber, Eugene Ciesnolevicz, and Douglas A. Harman, Wiconisco, received six to 15 year sentences after they pleaded guilty to criminal homicide and related charges earlier this year.