Two arrested in homicide of Scranton man

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Two men have been arrested in connection to the strangulation death of Scranton man whose body was found hidden under a blanket and ankles bound.

Michael Sanitate, 58, and John Pringle, 61, have been charged with the murder ofWalter Harmon, 67, who was found dead in his residence at 1441 St. Ann's Street in Scranton.

According to police, Harmon was Sanitate's uncle.

According to investigators, on March 5, Sanitate called police to report a burglary at 1443 St. Ann's Street, the double block residence connected to 1441 St. Ann's Street.

Sanitate told police that his mother rented 1443 St. Ann's Street but had been in a nursing home. He was homeless and had been living on the porch.

Angel Berdecia, 36, was identified and taken into custody. He admitted to removing power tools and jewelry from 1441 St. Ann's Street to sell for meth, police said. He was charged with burglary.

Police said Berdecia believed Harmon was in a nursing home as per Sanitate, and that Berdecia was given the keys to Harmon's black Cadillac, which he had been using to drive around. However, Sanitate would later say that Harmon would never be the kind of person to let others drive his car.

On Sunday, March 10, a family friend of Harmon filed a missing persons report, concerning that it was uncommon for him to be not at his house for such a long period of time.

Investigators then responded to Harmon's residence, which had been burglarized. Police then found Harmon's body under a pile of blankets, bound at his ankles with a dog leash. It was "very apparent he was deceased," the affidavit said.

In an interview with police, Sanitate said he "had a good relationship" with Harmon and that they recently tried to invest thousands of Harmon's money.

An autopsy on Monday, March 11, determined that Harmon's cause of death was determined to be manual asphyxiation. His death was ruled a homicide.

In an interview with police, Pringle admitted that he tied Harmon at the legs and feet with an electrical cord while Sanitate strangled him. Police said Harmon struggled and begged for his life before he was strangled.

When they covered his body, Santitate reportedly said: "We are both responsible for his death. I'll take the body, I'll take the life. I did it for my mother and I will do it again."

According to Pringle, he and Sanitate "ripped the house apart" over the next few days looking for a supposed $80,000 in the home.

After Pringle's interview, Sanitate "readily admitted" his involvement in the homicide, according to police.

Sanitate was charged with criminal homicide, while Pringle was charged with accomplice to criminal homicide and unlawful restraint.

Both remain locked up in the Lackawanna County Prison, denied bail. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for March 26.