Pocono News Section

Fourth Arrest in 2005 Edwardsville Murder Case

Fourth Arrest in 2005 Edwardsville Murder Case - Friday, May 9, 2008 at 4:45PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Friday, May 9, 2008 @ 04:45pm EST
EDWARDSVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY- A fourth arrest was made Friday in the beating death of an elderly Luzerne County man back in 2005. Police say this person planned the killing.

Investigators say this is one of the most bizarre cases they have ever seen - a family affair murder plot.

Earlier this week we told you about the arrests of three family members in the murder of 72-year-old Peter Lach. Police say it was information from Andrea Bidding that led to the arrest of her husband, Anthony Bidding, her daughter, 18-year-old Erica Legg and her niece, 18-year-old Gabrielle Thomas, for that murder.

But now police have discovered that it was Andrea Bidding herself that ordered the killing. Luzerne County Asst. D. A. Mike Vogue said, "In fact it was her idea. Our information led us to believe she was the catalyst, the instigator, to going over to Mr. Lach's house. She knew Mr. Lach, she had borrowed money previously, she told then he would have money and he would be sleeping at the time."

Peter Lach was beaten, robbed and tied up in his Edwardsville home in 2005. And it was Mr. Lach who first gave police a lead to his killers - as he lay dying after he was beaten and robbed. "Mr. Lack did mention to speak to Andrea Bidding, she might know who these people were, was his exact quote," added Vogue.

And what makes this even more tragic, the four family members only made off with about $100 from Peter Lach.