HANOVER TOWNSHIP -- Police in Hanover Township are now investigating a homicide after the body of a woman was found inside a home.
The discovery happened Wednesday morning at the Townhomes at Hanover development.
It was inside a home there that officers found the body of Gail Monahan, 50, and investigators say they are treating this death as a homicide.
Hanover Township police were asked to check on Monahan at her house in the Townhomes at Hanover development around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday after she failed to show up at work. That`s when officers made their discovery.
Among those at the crime scene, co-workers of Monahan who say she hasn't been to work since Friday.
They didn't want to give their names, but say they've been very concerned for Monahan.
“I called yesterday, she didn't answer. Then I called today and I said, 'Please call me back because I worried about you.' I texted her like please. When I called back the phone was off.”
Hanover Township police and state police were on scene for hours, finally executing two search warrants on Monahan`s home on Allenberry Drive.
For people living in this quiet community near Nanticoke, this is a shock.
“First time anything like this has happened here, I've been here since the beginning when these were first built. I was one of the first ones here,” said Tony Perugino.
"This is a shock. We consider this the best-kept secret in Hanover Township. There has been no serious criminal activity in the past that I'm aware of. I'm shocked," said resident Gifford Cappellini.
Monahan's co-workers say she was a kindhearted woman.
“Gail was a good person. She would always give gifts to my kids all the time, like Christmas, their birthdays.”
“She loved her daughters, always talking about them, their babies.”
State police along with the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office and Hanover Township police are investigating.
Troopers say interviews are being conducted as they continue to gather more information.
Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 570-697-2000.
