Reading police: Killings of woman, son appear not to be random

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The killings of a woman and her son in Reading do not appear to be the result of a random act of violence, police said Monday.


The victims, Mary Branford, 74, and her son, Johnny Branford, 52, were found dead by police in the living room of their home at 646 N. 11th St. Saturday night.


Officers were responding to calls from family members, who reported not being able to contact the Branfords for several days.


An autopsy revealed that Johnny Branford died of multiple stab wounds. Authorities are awaiting further tests to determine how his mother died.


Both victims' deaths were ruled homicides.


So far, police have not been able to identify a suspect, but they did say Monday that "based on the information developed so far, this does not appear to be random event."


Anyone with information that can help the case is asked to call Crime Alert Berks County at 877-373-9913. A cash reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.






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Massive fire at Berks County business still under investigation

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Officials say a massive fire that caused heavy damage at a Berks County business is still under investigation.


According to officials, a fire at Reitnouer Inc., a business located at 5 East Pointe Drive in Cumru Township, was reported by a caller outside the facility around noon Saturday.


A second alarm was triggered soon after.


According to a WFMZ photographer at the scene, the fire appeared mostly contained to one truck trailer.


Some metal siding on the building was scolded, but the building itself was not on fire.


Tires on the property were on fire, causing heavy black smoke that could be seen for miles.


There is no word yet on how the fire started. Officials say a determination could be made by mid-week.


Officials are continuing to interview workers there.


No injuries were reported.


Reitnouer Inc. is a company specializing in the manufacturing of aluminum trailers.






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Multiple vehicles crash on Route 222 in Berks

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Emergency crews are on the scene of an accident involving multiple vehicles on Route 222 in southern Berks County.


The crash was reported shortly before 2 p.m. Monday near the Grings Hill Road interchange in Cumru Township.


Initial reports from the scene are that at least three people are confined in various vehicles, including a tractor trailer, and need to be rescued.


Authorities are also reporting a large fuel spill at the scene.


A 69 News crew is heading to the scene. Refresh this page for updates as information becomes available.






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New England Patriots' 4th Super Bowl win a 1st for Boyertown Area High School graduate

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The New England Patriots' fourth Super Bowl win is the first for the team's fullback.


James Develin is a 2006 graduate of Boyertown Area High School in Berks County. He helped the Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 Sunday night.


Tom Brady threw for four touchdowns, and Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson's pass in the end zone with 20 seconds left in the game.


Develin received one pass and ran it for six yards. He caught his first ever receiving touchdown from Brady during the AFC Championship game two weeks ago.


The Patriots had lost three straight Super Bowls since winning three in four years a decade ago.


A championship parade is set for Tuesday in Boston.






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Jury deliberations underway in Miguel Torres murder trial

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A jury is now working to decide the fate of a Berks County man who was once one of America's most-wanted fugitives.


Deliberations in the Miguel Torres murder trial began shortly before 1:30 p.m. Monday in the Berks County Courthouse. The jury, which is being bused from York to Reading each day, got a late start because of the inclement weather.


Torres, formerly of Exeter Township, stands accused of shooting his estranged wife, Barbie Torres, to death as she left work in downtown Reading on Sept. 12, 2005.


Torres, officials said, then fled the country, first to the Dominican Republic and then to Italy, where he was captured in March 2013.


Torres took the stand Friday and testified in his own defense, telling the jury that a loan shark to whom he owed $38,000 is the one who killed his wife.


Torres is facing life in prison if he's convicted of first degree murder. Prosecutors could not seek the death penalty because of an extradition agreement with Italy.


Jurors from York County were selected for the trial because of the extensive publicity the case received in Berks.


The judge told each juror on Friday to pack an overnight bag in case wintry weather forced the jurors to stay in a hotel Monday night.






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Patty Pagoda fails to see shadow, predicts early spring

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When it comes to our weather over the next six weeks, Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog and Berks County's prognosticating rodent aren't seeing eye-to-eye.


While Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow early Monday morning, Patty Pagoda did not.


A German legend has it that if a groundhog sees his shadow on Feb. 2, winter will last another six weeks. If not, spring comes early.


Patty last year predicted six more weeks of winter, which was a forecast that essentially held true.






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Jackknifed tractor trailer causes major traffic delays in Berks

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A jack-knifed tractor trailer caused quite the backup for drivers traveling northbound on 222 in Spring Township, Berks County, Monday morning.


Officials said no one was injured in the accident, which occurred atop slick and slushy roadways just after 7 a.m.


According to Spring Township Police, fuel leaked from the tanker but was quickly contained.


The road though, which remains blocked off, created havoc for morning commuters.


"It's terrible," said Gloria Glass, of Muhlenberg Township.


"Pretty frustrating trying to get to work," said Aaron Smith, of Sinking Spring.


Smith told 69 News that it took him nearly 45 minutes to travel two miles toward his job in Reading.


"Yeah, it's crazy," he said.


The accident was one of several reported during the morning commute all across the region, as snow and rain moved in overnight.


Officials expect 222 North in Spring Township to remain closed for a couple of hours.








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Health Beat: Bionic woman: LVAD helps heart

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Several years ago, Ruby Moody suffered two heart attacks and flat-lined in the hospital. Today, the 79-year-old is going strong, thanks to her left-ventricular assist device.


"I would fully recommend it to anyone that loved life like I love life, to go that route," Moody said.


Left ventricular assist devices, or LVADs, remove blood from the left ventricle of the heart and pump it into the aorta. The device was once used as a temporary solution to keep patients alive until a heart transplant, but the pumps are now being used as a permanent treatment for many patients.


"It’s a good thing, and for those patients who need it, it's lifesaving," said Dr. David Rawitscher, medical director of the Congestive Heart Failure Clinic at The Heart Hospital Baylor.


The newest LVADs are smaller, more durable and provide continuous flow. Now, researchers are studying whether they can actually heal hearts. Doctors are implanting LVADs temporarily in hopes that they will shrink enlarged hearts and reverse some of the damage. Then, they'll remove the devices.


Moody plugs in her battery-powered pump every night. It takes some effort, but Moody and everyone who sees her says the device has changed her life.


"Her quality of life drastically improved. She's back to doing the things she loved," explained Crystal Gibbs, LVAD coordinator at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano.


"I have more energy; I can watch my great grandson play football," said Moody.


More than five-million Americans have heart failure and about 150,000 suffer from chronic, severe heart failure. There are about only 2,100 donor hearts available each year, so LVADs are an important treatment option for patients who can't get a donor heart right away.


DOWNLOAD and VIEW medical blueprint






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Teen accused in Lehigh student attack accepts plea deal

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A Bethlehem teen has accepted a plea deal in connection with the case of a brutal attack on a Lehigh University student.


Police said Bryan Sanchez-Osorio attacked a Lehigh University student in July 2014 after breaking into her off-campus apartment through a window and assaulting the woman inside her bedroom, where he allegedly tried to rape her and choked her until she turned blue.


Osorio's family said the teen has severe mental health issues and was flown to the United States from Puerto Rico to undergo treatment and be enrolled in high school. He had barely moved in with his older sister in Bethlehem when the incident occurred in the 400 block of Carlton Street in Bethlehem on July 15.


Osorio, 17, faced a slew of charges.


On Monday, Osorio accepted a plea agreement where he pleaded guilty to burglary, attempted burglary, attempted rape and aggravated assault.


In turn, prosecutors agreed to drop charges of unlawful restraint, escape and criminal trespass.


Northampton County Judge Emil Giordano said this was the "worst case he has seen in all his years on the bench."


Osorio faces up to 80 years in prison.






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Music Monday: Flux Capacitor

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They are a three-piece rock band of three brothers originally from the Reading area.



Monday morning, they braved the snowy conditions to help us start the week on a nice note with Music Monday.



Watch the video link attached to this story to see Jason, Peter, and Michael Specht from Flux Capacitor perform LIVE on 69 News at Sunrise.






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Some areas of Northampton County without power

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Some areas of Northampton County are reporting power outages Monday morning.


According to Met-Ed officials, 101-500 customers in Bushkill Township and less than 20 in Palmer Township are without electricity.


Officials said crews have been dispatched to the areas, and they estimate power will be restored to those customers by 11:30 a.m. Monday.


There's no word on what caused the outages.


PPL has no reported outages.






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Life Lessons: Knee implant surgery

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police...coming up >>> jaciel cordoba: Studies show every 45 seconds a person in the us has knee replacement surgery. Its a major surgery with significant recovery time. >> eve tannery: But as WFMZs Nancy Werteen tells us in Life Lessons, there may be an easier procedure available soon. >>Nancy: Doctors say every year they are performing more knee replacements as people live longer and their joints start to wear out . Predictions are that by 2030 , the number of surgeries is expected to jump nearly 400 percent . But with a new idea being tested, there may soon be another option. >>nat sound: Drake practicing martial arts) :02 >>nancy: drake ross has always been committed to staying fit.hes an avid runner and student of martial arts. but over the years the cartilage between his thigh and shin bones known as the meniscus began to tear and his activity level took a serious hit.>> Drake Ross First to get meniscus implant It kind of dwindled to the point of not running because i knew i wasnt going to get better.The meniscus doesnt repair itself. :08 >>nancy: drake had 3 procedures to shave off the damaged part of his meniscus and went online to see if there were any other treatment options.he learned that not only cant the meniscus repair itself, but the injury only gets worse. >>Dr. Christopher Kaeding Ohio States Wexner Medical Center Theyre starting to have pain on that side of the knee, the concern for most orthopedic surgeons is that knee is starting to get arthritis and the arthritis will progress over time. :10 >>nancy: so, doctor christopher kaeding (pronounced: KAYding) is helping to test a new approach. at the ohio state university wexner medical center, he became the first surgeon in the us to implant this. its a type of plastic cartilage that not only replaces most of the damaged meniscus, but in some patients in european studies, has been shown to conform to the body.>> Dr. Kaeding: Actually, with time, theyve noticed it will aplastic and deform and actually custom fit that particular knee... :06 If this implant turns out to work as well as we think it will, it fills a gap in our treatment spectrum for patients who have injuries to their knee. :09 >>nancy: patients like drake one of millions of americans who are caught between having knee pain and the prospect of having it replaced.:07 >>Drake: Were at the point where we want to take a preventative step. My hope is that once the implant is done..// thats it, i mean, Im good and theres never another issue. --- --- >>Nancy : Doctors say the device will be implanted at seven different sites around the country and they will follow the patients for several months to chart their mobility and pain levels. They are hoping this device will help millions of middle age patients who are too old for meniscus repair but too young for a knee replacement.Nancy werteen 69






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Hotel clerk robbed at gunpoint in Montgomery County

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Police Montgomery County are investigating an armed robbery at a local hotel.



It happened around 10 p.m. Sunday at the Days Inn hotel at 1600 Industrial Highway off Route 422 in Lower Pottsgrove Township.


Police said they were looking for a person with a gun who robbed the clerk.


We're told several departments responded, including a K-9 Unit from Limerick Township to help investigate.


Police say the suspect is still on the loose.






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Armed robbery in Lower Pottsgrove Twp.

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fans were disappointed there wasn't a bigger showing. >>> eve TANNERY:morning, police in Lower Pottsgrove Township are investigating an armed robbery. It happened around 10:00 last night at the Days Inn hotel on Route 422 and Industrial Highway. We're told several departments responded, including a k-9 Unit from Limerick Township to help






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Police: Weather, DUI cause Montgomery County crash

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Police in Montgomery County said weather and a driver DUI combined to cause a crash Sunday night.


Around 11 p.m., Lower Pottsgrove Police responded to an accident between a minivan and an SUV on East High Street near Sanatoga Road.



Police said weather played a factor in the crash, and they also said one of the drivers was under the influence.


No word on any injuries, or what charges that driver may be facing.






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