DUNMORE, Pa. — Christine Hessmiller, 39, of Dunmore, had nothing to say as she was taken into district court Wednesday. Hessmiller is facing involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of 81-year-old Gary Porter.
Police records show the two worked for the same cleaning company contracted through the Dunmore School District.
According to court paperwork, Dunmore police officers were called to Dunmore Elementary Center after Hessmiller reported she found Porter unresponsive in a hallway. Porter was pronounced dead shortly after investigators arrived.
A few days later, police say a member of the school's maintenance staff contacted investigators after looking through surveillance video from the night of the incident.
Investigators say the video showed Hessmiller and Porter fighting, and Hessmiller allegedly struck the victim several times on the head and neck while also biting his hand.
The video allegedly shows Porter collapsing several minutes after that altercation.
The Lackawanna County coroner says Porter died from cardiorespiratory failure, which he says is a result of the attack.
Hessmiller is locked up in Lackawanna County Prison on $50,000 bail. She is due back in court later this month.