Reading had the third highest murder rate in the state in 1997, behind Chester and Philadelphia. According to State Police Uniform Crime Reporting 16 homicides occured in the city. Most of the homicides had a direct drug relationship.
Lino Capellan 2/12/1997 Unsolved Duryea Drive City Park Murder
2 Cases Remain Unsolved From 1997 PLEASE HELP!
Malik Molina 12/21/1997 Unsolved S. Eighth Street Murder
Jarvay "Jason" Bolton 24
Murdered 7/11/1997
on S. 6th Street in Reading
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A Reading Pizza shop co owner was shot and killed..
George Clauser Jr. Murdered 12/23/1997
Reading Eagle Article Part II
"He was one of the nicest men I ever met."
Jackie Goodman 21 Years old 8 months pregnant killed by a drunk driver Route 61 Ontelaunee Twp. 9/26/1997
Article Dated 2/13/1998
Donald Gephart 38 Years old killed by a drunk driver Rt 222 12/5/1997
Article Dated 7/3/1999
700 Block of N. Ninth St. Read more..
Mercedes M. Phillips 3 Months old Killed 10/11/1997
February 19, 1997 James H. Taylor, 79, & his girlfriend Marion R. Wilson, 75, were shot to death in a Apt. on N. Front St.
Article Dated March 24, 1998
March 23,1997 Chrisitian Tiburco-Zabala, 23, killed after an argument over a woman outside the Casablanca bottle club Franklin St Hours before the shooting, he asked his mother to bless him.
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March 31, 1997 James A. Pufko, 30 Killed by his wife in his Exeter Twp Home. His wife thought he was having an affair.
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April 1, 1997 Ade Jomoyatta Cambridge, 24 Killed at the Front & Schiller playground as children played nearby.
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May 11, 1997 Troy D. Ludwig, 29 Killed as he tried to buy drugs on Pear and Elm Streets.
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September 5, 1997 Richard Martinez, 24 Drug related shooting S. Ninth Street
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September 5, 1997 Marvin Jones, 40 Killed by his brother after a night of heavy drinking.
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October 2, 1997 Melvin Baldwin, 50 Stabbed to death by his financee in his car on Buttonwood St. W. Reading The two argued over who was going to pay for sandwiches.
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October 17, 1997 Christopher Hoppe 19 Months old Died of suffocation while being cared for by his Uncle on Perkiomen Av.
