Family, Friends Remember Latest Strangulation Victim
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Friends and family members now say 27-year-old Casey Mahoney, the third suspected murder victim of the "Kensington Strangler," was a loving mother, who was battling to clean up her life and reunite with the three-year-old son she loved, when she was murdered. Her body was found Wednesday night along the 100 block of East Tusculum Street.
Mahoney's mother-in-law, speaking exclusively by phone with CBS 3, says Mahoney came to Philadelphia from her home in East Stroudsburg, Pa. in September to attend a drug rehab clinic, but she had to leave because she lacked insurance.
The mother-in-law, who was caring for Mahoney's son, says they lost contact with her for more than two months as she wandered through Kensington. Her only contact was a call to her son on his birthday.
Finally, Mahoney's best friend says she tracked her down, offering a bus ticket back home if she promised to re-enter drug rehab. Mahoney, her friend says, was hoping for a Christmas reunion with her son and gave her word.
But family members tell CBS 3 after entering drug detox for a week, Mahoney once again left and made one final phone call to her son.
Her family believes Mahoney, lacking bus fare, may have hitchhiked back to the streets of Kensington.
And it is there police say, 48 hours after returning, that she was attacked by the strangler, who left her body in a trash-covered lot.
Mahoney's mother-in-law and best friend say they are heartbroken by the loss of the young mother. They hope the strangler will be caught before he attacks anyone else.
Meanwhile, as the family makes funeral plans, Philadelphia police late Friday afternoon released new surveillance tape of a man believed to be the strangler. He was seen shortly before a Dec. 6th attack in which the victim was beaten and sexually assaulted, but she survived.
A reward for information about the strangler has also been increased, now standing at $4,000.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Citizens Crime Commission Hotline at 215-546-TIPS.
Reported By: Walt Hunter, CBS 3
