Pocono News Section

Mount Carmel Murder Hearing

Mount Carmel Murder Hearing - Friday, February 15, 2008 at 6:17PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Friday, Feb 15, 2008 @06:17pm EST
Mount Carmel, Northumberland County-
A Mount Carmel man accused of murdering his wife a year ago, pleaded not guilty in court today. Steven Douglas Wolfgang left his preliminary hearing this afternoon, after District Judge Michael Mychak heard testimony from a handful of prosecution witnesses.
Wolfgang is accused of killing his wife Sherry last January, placing her body in a medical supply box, and dumping it into Mahanoy Creek.
Northumberland County District Attorney Anthony Rosini said, "The Commonwealth presented what we believe is a prima facie case, evidence of a crime, and that the defendant committed the crime. It's inappropriate for me to comment on the evidence."
According to the criminal complaint, police say Steven Wolfgang told them he and his wife got into an argument at their home on Market Street in Mount Carmel. He said he then knocked her to the ground, placing his hand over her mouth, and resting all of his weight on her chest, pinning her to the ground until she died. Wolfgang later denied making those statements.
Police say Wolfgang then stuffed Sherry's body into a box and dumped it in the creek. He was arrested three days later near the same spot, after torching the couple's Chevy Blazer in an apparent suicide attempt.
Wolfgang was not charged with murder until recently because his wife's body was not positively identified until this past November.
Neither attorney had much to say after today's preliminary hearing.
Northumberland County Public Defender Paige Rosini said, "Certainly today is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. It's just the Commonwealth laying out their preliminary evidence. So at this point, I'll talk to my client and we'll decide how to proceed."
An arraignment is scheduled on April 4th, before the case proceeds to trial. Steven Wolfgang is back behind bars tonight.
Wolfgang’s two daughters and other family members attended today’s hearing. They declined an on-camera interview, but say Steven Wolfgang is a good person, that he is not violent, and that the whole thing was an accident that happened in the heat of the moment.