Homeless man pleads guilty to 2021 triple homicide, receives three life sentences

Francis Scarcella, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
·1 min read

Apr. 11—SUNBURY — A homeless man will serve three life sentences after pleading guilty Thursday to shooting three people to death in Snydertown in 2021.

Matthew Reed, 26, pleaded guilty to killing Susan Williams, 58, James Dicken, 59, and 17-year-old John Paul Dicken, all of Snydertown, in June 2021. His plea Thursday came in front of Northumberland County President Judge Paige Rosini.

Rosini accepted the plea and immediately sentenced Reed to three life sentences.

Reed appeared in court with his defense attorneys Brian Ulmer, of Lewisburg, and James Best, of Sunbury.

Police say Reed murdered Williams, James Dicken and John Paul Dicken during a dispute over a vehicle purchase. According to police, the dispute over the vehicle caused Reed to "snap" just before he shot and killed the three people inside their home at 3425 Snydertown Road.

Reed was living at Haven Ministry, a homeless shelter in Sunbury at the time of the shootings.

According to police, the dispute over the vehicle caused Reed to "snap" just before he shot and killed the three people inside their home at 3425 Snydertown Road.

Troopers said Reed admitted to the killings during an interview.

This is a developing story. More details will be published when they become available.