Suspect's Mother Arrested In Connection With Ross Twp. Burglary
ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- A local mother is now in police custody, facing charges in connection with a burglary at a pastor's home in Ross Township.
Warrants have also been issued for the pastor's niece and the woman's son in connection with the case. Police continue to search for the pair.
"They've taken my dead son's possessions," said Pastor Michael Guthrie, the burglary victim. "I said, 'I gotta talk to her now.' And the mother said, 'No, she's not here. I haven't seen her for months.'"
Guthrie made that plea to Teresa Lenz. She left the Ross Township Police Department on Friday night in handcuffs.
She is accused of helping Guthrie's niece, 28-year-old Jessica Hirth, and her boyfriend, 26-year-old Jeremiah Kelly, who is Lenz's son, run from police.
Police say Hirth and Kelly are accused of ransacking Guthrie's home on Christmas Eve.
"No one could think that they would go into somebody's house and do this," said Guthrie.
The Cornerstone Church pastor was presiding over a service when his home was burglarized. Everything from laptop computers, jewelry and even the pastor's wedding ring, were taken.
But it was Guthrie's late son's belongs that were stolen, specifically a gun, that has the whole family and police worried.
"That is our main concern is that they are armed right now," said Sgt. Benjamin Dripps, of the Ross Township Police Department. "You may even want to consider them desperate being that they're on the run from law enforcement."
Guthrie says Hirth and Kelly have drug problems. He says, ironically that day before the burglary, the family had talked about having an intervention with Hirth.
Now, he's hoping the two turn themselves in to stop her downward spiral.
"She needs to step forward to turn her life in a different direction," Guthrie said.
Lenz has been charged with obstruction of justice and hindering apprehension.
RELATED LINKS:
Arrest Warrants Issued In Ross Twp. Pastor Home Burglary (12/28/12)
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