Crime & Safety
Man Charged with Homicide Following West Bethlehem Standoff
The victim has been identified as Trisha A. Sadler, 29, of Bethlehem.
UPDATE: This story was updated at 2 p.m., Saturday June 18 to reflect the name of the victim, Trisha A. Sadler, 29, 1860 Cloverdale Road.
A man who kept for more than five hours outside a West Bethlehem home on Friday has been charged with homicide, police said early this morning.
WFMZ is reporting that Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim identified the victim as 29-year-old Trisha A. Sadler of Bethlehem. And according to Lehigh County property records, the home at 1860 Cloverdale Road has been owned and occupied by a Trisha A. Sadler since September 2010.
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William J. Ward, 45, who is believed to be Sadler's boyfriend, was taken from the home Friday afternoon after the City's Emergency Response Team stormed the house.
The Morning Call is reporting that neighbors said they occasionally heard 'shouting and screaming' from the residence, and neighbors also said the police were called at least once before.
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According to the WFMZ report, Grim said Sadler died from sharp force injuries to her body attributed to stab wounds. And an Express-Times article states Sadler's body was dismembered and found inside plastic bags.
In addition to criminal homicide, Ward, has also been charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault and resisting arrest, according to a news release issued by the Bethlehem Police.
Ward has been committed to Lehigh County Prison, police said. No bail is permitted in homicide cases in Pennsylvania.
The investigation is still in its early stages, police said. In an e-mail message, Det. Lt. Mark DiLuzio said no more information would be made available until Monday.
According to news reports, Ward was removed from the home after a standoff that lasted no less than about five hours. A coroner was then called to the scene.
In the news release, police said they responded to the scene at 10:50 a.m. Friday after people who know the woman reported they had not any recent contact with her. “This alarmed them sufficiently enough to call our department for assistance,” the release said.
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