2 The Dallas Post NEWS Friday, June 13, 2003 Horror (continued from page 1) the double figures. Two of the bodies are those of a missing Tunkhannock pharmacist Michael Kerkowski Jr., and his girlfriend Tammy Fassett. Kerkowski, a 1983 graduate of Lake-Lehman High School, was awaiting sentenc- ing on charges he illegally sold prescription painkillers, when he and Fassett disappeared in May 2002. Their remains, unearthed Thursday, were identified Sun- day. An autopsy showed the couple had been strangled. Lupas said a drug connec- tion to Kerkowski’s and Fas- sett’s deaths is one of the theo- ries being pursued, but would not comment on any drug con- nection to the other bodies. He has not said how long po- lice believe the remains of the three other people have been at the site, or identify the ex- act location where they were found. Luzerne County Coroner George Hudock determined Kerkowski and Fassett had been dead for at least six months before their bodies were unearthed behind the home that Kerkowski’s friend, Hugo Selenski, shared with his girlfriend, Christina Strom. Authorities were led to the Strom property after investiga- tors working another case were told an unspecified num- ber of bodies were buried there, Lupas said. He declined to reveal details of the other FOR THE DALLAS POST/PETE G. WILCOX Members of a Pennsylvania State Police forensic team sifted through buckets of dirt looking for evidence left behind from a double homicide discovered June 5 in Kingston Township. Recount (continued from page 1) menced Monday and were still ongoing Wednesday. The Kingston Township recount re- quested by Republican candi- date Sean McAndrew is, howev- er, complete showing McAn- drew still trails Yankovich by three votes. Jeff Box still leads with the most votes, followed by David Jenkins and Yankovich. Chris Concert will be on the Democ- ratic ballot in November along with Republican Neil Allen, who squeaked onto the Democ- ratic ballot with 13 write-in votes. Ten write-ins are re- quired to get on the ballot. Although the recount didn’t affect the outcome, vote totals have changed. Original num- bers provided by voter services put Box at 570 votes, a number that has gone down to 566. Jenkins originally had 495, a number that has gone down to 490. Yankovich originally had 414, a number voter services re- ports is down to 407, but still separates him from McAndrew by three votes. Kevin Jordan, Director of Vot- er Services did not return mes- sages asking for comment. Tell our advertisers you saw them in The Dallas Post. They'll appreciate it, and so will we. FLEA MARKET DALLAS In EY ge pOuCE ® [RR 2 a BS Faas ; Lk ps igh $ re SRS TANIA AL = FOR THE DALLAS POST/PETE G. WILCOX The Pennsylvania State Police have established a permanent presence at 479 Mount Olivet Road in Kingston Township, as they investigate the remains of at least five persons found buried there. investigation. Selenski, who grew up on Dallas Township and graduat- ed from Dallas High School in 1991, is awaiting a prelimi- nary hearing on charges he robbed Kerkowski’s father of $40,000 that belonged to Kerkowski Jr. Police have not named him or Strom as sus- pects in the homicide investi- gation. One of Selenski’s cousins, Brian Higdon, said he doesn’t believe Selenski is a mass murderer. “I'm totally shocked. The whole family is shocked,” Hig- don said. “He said he is inno- cent. He doesn’t know what is going on.” Higdon said he had been staying at the couple’s house when police arrived to look for bodies. He said Selenski reacted with disbelief when he read the search warrant. “He said, ‘You're looking for bodies? Go ahead, dig up the yard,” Higdon said. “He of- fered them shovels and rakes. ... He couldn’t believe it.” Lupas said investigators have “leads” regarding the identity of the newly found re- mains and were working to confirm the information. He cautioned the identification may take “quite a bit of time.” “Obviously bones are part of the remains were looking at. That’s why we brought in the anthropologists. ... They can be helpful in giving us a gen- der and race,” Lupas said. Lupas said review of miss- ing person reports is a “logical place” for investigators to start. He did not provide fur- ther details, and did not say if investigators have obtained re- ports from departments other than Wilkes-Barre. Lupas said an “extraordi- nary” amount of resources are being dedicated to the case. Five assistant district attor- neys, six county detectives and 15 to 20 state police in- vestigators are working the case along with Hudock and three forensic experts. The experts, Dr. Michael Baden, pathologist and chief Legion elections coming up Daddow-Isaac Post 672, The American Legion will hold their an- gual election, Friday, June 13. Time for voting will be 5 to 8 p.m. All Legion offices and three director offices are open. Proof of membership is required. al LLING FOR SUMpp IN TWIN STACKS COMPLEX 674-3699 . Offering Professional Training In BALLET © JAZZ (Class Level From Beginner To Professional) Our students come from Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Back Mountain, Pittston, Hazleton, Mountainfop to study at our school. TAP medical examiner for the New York State Police, Anthony Falsetti, a University of Flori- da forensic anthropologist, and Lowell Levine, a forensic dental expert, were called in because of their specific areas of expertise, he said. U.S. Attorney Tom Marino also visited the crime scene Tuesday. Lupas said Marino has offered assistance of fed- eral prosecutors, but they are not involved in the investiga- tion at this point. Lupas said investigators have made significant progress in the case, but he cautioned the investigation will take time. He is asking anyone with information “per- tinent to the activity” at the home to contact police. “Investigators are out con- ducting numerous interviews and are pounding the pave- ment, making a lot of head- way with the investigation,” he said. “We have a firm grasp on the situation and the pub- lic should not be overly alarmed.” Board honors retiring teachers By ERIN YOUNGMAN Post Staff DALLAS — At Monday’s meeting, the Dallas School Board recognized the retire- ment of several long-time Dal- las teachers. : Gilbert Griffiths, Superinten- dent, thanked Mick Weyman, middle school teacher, Maryann Jesse, 6th grade teacher, and Valeria Rothrock, 4th grade teacher, for their numerous years with the district. Between them, the three teachers amassed a combined 94.5 years in the classroom. Griffiths presented Weyman and Rothrock (Jesse was not present) with a combination desk clock and plaque. “It's been a memorable time for each of them,” said Griffit about the teachers many years with Dallas. “And we hate to see that kind of lineage leave the Dallas School District.” “I hope by seeing this (plaque) every day, you'll re- member the district and the many students that you taught,” said Griffiths. Also at the meeting, Paul Degillio of Foreman Burkavage, provided updates on the com- pletion of the middle school renovation project. * He said two out of the 14 con- tractors working on the project have completely “punched out,” leaving 12 that still have “quite substantial balances” to finish up. Degillio reported the six new tennis courts initially scheduled to be built last fall are now nearly complete. The lights and fencing are up and the finishing surface coat went on this week. The Dallas Elemen School security vestibule pr ect will begin next week an will be completed well before the next school year. The addi- tion will mean visitors to the building will be required to en- ter through a door leading di- rectly into the school’s office. Degillio said the project is ex- pected to take a couple of weeks to complete. Laie | SHOULDER INJURIES IN THE ATHLETE A free seminar for high school and college athletes, trainers, coaches and recreational athletes Presenter: William P.H. Charlton, M.D. Orthopedic Surgeon Sports Medicine Fellowship Trained Sports Fellow for L.A. Lakers, L.A. 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