State Police said late Friday night they have identified the homicide victim, who was found dead inside his Mahanoy City home, and they said they arrested a man for his death.
The 48-year-old man found dead inside this home on West Centre Street in Mahanoy City is Gene Slavinsky.
Police have arrested Jarvin Huggins, 18, of Mahanoy City and charged him with Slavinsky’s homicide.
This information comes after hours of investigation work and much speculation by neighbors.
"I didn't know what was going on,” said neighbor Pat Kurdinsky. “I just came home from church and I saw police cars all over the place and I didn't know what was going on until my neighbor called me.”
Police said Huggins came to Slavinsky’s home Tuesday morning and went in through the basement with the intention of burglarizing the place.
Huggins allegedly cut the electricity to the home in order to lure Slavinsky down to the basement.
When Slavinsky came down police said Huggins struck him several times in the head with an iron rod.
Huggins then reportedly stole several items from the house, including Slavinksy’s car which police said he used to take the items from the crime scene.
Slavinsky’s car was found back outside his home which police towed.
It may have been the car that led to the discovery of Slavinsky’s body.
A concerned neighbor who was too upset to talk on camera said he hadn’t seen Slavinsky for a few days and was worried, especially when he noticed Slavinsky’s car wasn’t parked like it usually was.
He went to Slavinsky’s home Thursday and found him dead at the bottom of the basement stairs.
People said news that a violent crime could be committed where they live has them extremely concerned
“It's scary it really is,” said Ted Sisak. “It's the block we live in."
State Police said they investigated this case with the help of the Mahanoy City Police Department, the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office and the County Coroner’s Office.