Woman accused of tampering with evidence in homicide investigation
DICKSON CITY, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— Police have filed charges against a woman who allegedly tried to destroy evidence in a homicide investigation.
On January 30, police say 68-year-old Mary Harvey was injured during a fall in her Dickson City home. Harvey’s relative along with one of Harvey’s employees called 911 to report her injuries and take her to the hospital.
Harvey later died in the hospital; however, investigators said it appeared as though the injuries were from more than just a fall.
On January 31, investigators said the employee and 63-year-old Elaine Peters voluntarily came to the police station. While at the station, investigators asked the employee why there were red spots on his jacket, but he said it was just paint. At the time, authorities did not collect the jacket as evidence.
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On February 16, police noticed a photograph of the employee’s jacket at the crime scene covered in blood. This led investigators to determine the employee’s jacket was cleaned off before he went to the station.
Upon learning this, investigators said they obtained a search warrant for the employee’s jacket and went to the house where Peters and the employee were living with a friend.
Police said the employee helped investigators find the jacket, but Peters tried to prevent police from taking it. She reportedly told officers, “It’s not stained with blood from him and Mary— oh maybe I have the wrong— from him and Mary painting.”
Peters told officers she never washed the jacket despite the employee saying the jacket had been washed after being at Harvey’s home. Peters would later accuse her friend of cleaning the jacket.
Investigators said they spoke with the friend over the phone on March 1, but Peters was heard in the background telling her friend to lie. The two argued and police heard Peters say “What comes around goes around,” after her friend refused to lie and kicked Peters out of the house.
On March 4, officers said Peters convinced her neighbor to call 911 and accuse Peters’ friend of smoking crack. Police arrived on the scene and determined Peters was lying about the drugs.
Investigators charged Peters with one count of concealing/destroying evidence, one count of providing false information to law enforcement, and two charges related to trying to have other people lie for her.
At this time, no one else has been charged in this case.
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