WILKES-BARRE -- Authorities in Luzerne County say they have the person responsible for an elderly woman's death in Wilkes-Barre.
Luzerne County prison officials told Newswatch16 Robert Czerpak from Wilkes-Barre was brought in early Sunday morning.
According to prison officials, he is charged with criminal homicide and theft.
Investigators tell Newswatch16 that Riley's sister found her body Thursday night and noticed that the telephone line was cut and Riley's car and purse were missing. Officers were able to find the car and trace it back to Czerpak.
According to investigators, Czerpak strangled and killed Riley. But Czerpak told investigators Riley died falling down a flight of stairs.
Neighbors all over the block are shaken by the news. Pam Cote is even clearing out of her house and staying with her daughter for her own safety.
"I don't want to be here and be afraid to go to bed and go asleep at night," said Cote. "So I'm probably going to think about moving out of the neighborhood and it's a shame. I really like the North End and I really do like my home."
This is the second homicide for this block in less than a year.
"The people that have moved in here - I can't say they are all bad, but there's a lot of people in the neighborhood that aren't good people," Cote added.
"You just can't leave your kids out here anymore," added another neighbor. "You just don't now what's going to happen."
Czerpak remains locked up in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.
