Sign in Subscribe
Murder

Murder Case Against Two Men Moves Forward in Luzerne County

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Prosecutors in Luzerne County presented evidence, including cellular telephone records, fingerprints, and bloody clothing, to connect Samuel Wright and Alexander Troy McCarthy to the shooting death of Valec Lawes, a 24-year-old Jamaican man. The preliminary hearing, held at the Luzerne County Courthouse for security reasons, resulted in the forwarding of charges against Wright and McCarthy to trial in Luzerne County Court.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prosecutors relied on investigators to link the shooting death of Valec Lawes to Samuel Wright and Alexander Troy McCarthy through cellular telephone records, fingerprints, and bloody clothing found in seven garbage bags.
  • Wright and McCarthy are accused of luring Lawes to a remote area on Tunnel Road where he was killed, and McCarthy was accidentally shot in the back.
  • A third man, Oneko R. Venson, had charges dismissed against him due to lack of evidence placing him at the murder scene, but remains jailed on a single count of hindering apprehension.
  • Cellular telephone records placed McCarthy and Lawes leaving New York City early on March 22, and a cell phone call placed the two men entering Pennsylvania at 8:10 p.m.
  • Bloody clothing and bandages found in garbage bags matched the DNA of McCarthy, and a .45-caliber handgun was traded by Wright for crack cocaine in early 2006.
  • Wright allegedly admitted to being at the scene but denied any involvement in the shooting, and police found bloody clothing and bandages in his apartment.
  • Wright and McCarthy remain jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility without bail.

Statistics:

  • Valec Lawes died of a single gunshot wound to the head.
  • The shooting occurred on March 22.
  • Cellular telephone records placed McCarthy and Lawes leaving New York City early on March 22.
  • A cell phone call placed the two men entering Pennsylvania at 8:10 p.m.
  • Police found bloody clothing, bandages, and ammunition to a .45-caliber handgun in seven garbage bags.
  • McCarthy was accidentally shot in the back.

Sources:

  • Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, staff writer Edward Lewis
  • Cpl. Shawn Williams (testimony)
  • Trooper David Andreuzzi (testimony)
  • Cpl. Thomas McAndrew (testimony)
  • Luzerne County Chief Deputy Coroner William Lisman (statement)
  • Magistrate Gerald Feissner (presided over the preliminary hearing)
  • Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Times Leader, copyright (c) 2006 (distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News)

Read more