Katlynn Kearney,Joanne Kearney, Arrested; – Two individuals have been arrested after police investigated a suspicious death of a man Sunday, according to the Lebanon City Police Department.
On Oct. 5, police responded to a wellbeing check at an apartment in the 800 block of Chestnut Street. During the investigation, police said Dontay Hunter, 45, was found deceased inside the apartment.
The department said that the investigation resulted in the arrest of two individuals in connection with the incident.
“The suspects, a 32-year-old Katlynn Kearney and a 61-year-old Joanne Kearney, remain in custody on charges of Tampering with Physical Evidence,” police said in a release. “The investigation is ongoing and being investigated as a homicide. Additional charges may be filed pending the outcome of the police investigation.”
Hunter was discovered laying on the bed with a large amount of blood on the right-side upper torso area, according to court documents.
Police were also able to obtain surveillance video, which contained audio from the hallway outside of the apartment building. The video showed that Katlynn Kearney and Hunter entered the apartment at 8: 21 p.m. Oct. 4.
“At (8:54 p.m.), a female voice can be heard yelling ‘get off me’ from inside the apartment,” according to court documents. “At (8:57 p.m.) Katlynn Kearney is observed exiting the apartment and makes contact with a female, identified as Joanne Kearney. … At (8:57 p.m.), Joanne Kearney comments ‘He is passed out on the bed.'”
At 9: 16 p.m., Joanne Kearney is shown standing at the door of Hunter’s apartment and comments “he’s dead,” according to police reports. Police also noted Katlynn Kearney allegedly removing a white plastic bag from the apartment to the elevator, only to return later without it.
At 9:33 a.m. Oct. 5, Katlynn Kearney placed a call to 911 and closed Hunter’s apartment door, minutes before she can be seen removing items from the apartment, according to court documents.
When police officers arrived, they observed blood on the doorknob to Hunter’s apartment, along with droplets on the hallway floor between both apartments.
“During a search of the northside of 837 Chestnut St., (police) located a white in color plastic bag inside the dumpster behind 837 Chestnuts St.,” police said in their report. “During a further examination the white in color bag contained a knife with visible blood on the blade, candy wrappers, a partially consumed piece of candy, clear vial with a pink lid containing white residue and a Giant receipt.”
When police interviewed Katlynn Kearney later Oct. 5, she allegedly admitted she was involved in “a verbal and physical altercation” with Hunter. “Kearney states she retrieved a knife from within the apartment and struck the victim, Dontay Hunter, twice before fleeing the apartment,” police said in court documents.
Katlynn Kearney also allegedly admitted to packaging the knife and clothing together and disposing it at the Chestnut Street dumpster, according to court documents. Police allegedly obtained a gray tank top and dark colored shorts at the dumpster, and were able to match them to what Katlynn Kearney was wearing during the incident.
The victim and suspects were known to each other and at no time was there a threat to the public. Police said they were not be releasing futher information at this time.
Residents with information regarding this incident are asked to contact the Lebanon City Police Department or the Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office. Information can be provided by phone or through Crimewatch.
Both Katlynn Kearney and Joanne Kearney have a preliminary hearing scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Maria Dissinger at 8 a.m. Oct. 16.
