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Police: Scranton Homicide Victim Was Confidential Informant

SCRANTON, Pa. — New details have been released in the murder of a woman from Scranton. Police say three people purposefully injected Nina Gatto, 24, with ...

SCRANTON, Pa. -- New details have been released in the murder of a woman from Scranton.

Police say three people purposefully injected Nina Gatto, 24, with fentanyl-laced heroin last week in the Bangor Heights development in Scranton and then pinched her nose and covered her mouth to suffocate her. Investigators say the trio conspired to kill Gatto because she had been an informant for police in Scranton.

Cornelius Mapson, 32, Melinda Palermo, 37, both of Pittston, and Kevin Weeks, 25, are all behind bars charged with Gatto's death. Weeks was taken into custody late Friday night.

Gatto was found dead inside her home on Kennedy Street on April 20. Investigators said her cell phone was missing. Court papers indicate Weeks took that cell phone because it would link them to her death.

According to court papers, a witness overheard the trio talking about the killing, saying that it was supposed to look like an overdose.

Police say Mapson was supposed to be in court earlier this week on drug charges resulting from a drug bust back in February where Gatto was the informant. Investigators say Mapson wanted revenge.

Police had the arrest papers sealed until they caught Weeks Friday night. Investigators thought he might run.

The court papers also indicate one of the witnesses who helped police piece this together was threatened by someone who knew Weeks for cooperating with police.

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