Double Murder Suspect to Face Death Penalty in Monroe County
By: Eric Deabill
Updated: October 10, 2012
Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County - A man who's accused of killing two people in Monroe County will face the death penalty.
Prosecutors formally filed paperwork Wednesday in the case against Luis Vasquez as he showed-up for his preliminary hearing.
Vasquez is accused of killing two of his co-workers at a public park in Coolbaugh Township in August.
Five people testified at the preliminary hearing and a judge determined there is enough evidence for the case to move onto trial.
Vasquez was wearing a bullet-proof vest as he left a magistrate's office near Tobyhanna.
Investigators say the 28-year-old killed two men, Bertoldo Velez and Joseph King, at the Coolbaugh Township park in August.
"Normally we do it (file death penalty notice) at the formal arraignment but the public defender's office wouldn't send a death qualified, death penatly qualified attorney unless we indicated formally that we're going for the death penalty," District Attorney E. David Christine said.
Richard LaBar is an important part of the double homicide investigation.
He found a bag with the alleged murder weapon which police say ties the suspect to the crime with DNA evidence.
"I opened it up and I dumped it out, there was a gun inside of it and clothes, sneakers, a pair of pants, pair of shirt and rubber gloves," LaBar said.
LaBar says he was working the Stillwater Lakes Housing Development when he made the discovery, only 100 yards away from the suspect's home.
"I think I did a good job. I think I helped the families out that have lost their family," LaBar said.
Family members of the two vicitims declined to comment after the court hearing.
Police say the suspect and his victims worked together at United Envelope Company in Mount Pocono and the Vasquez allegedly owed one of the victim's money.
Despite the extra security, prosecutors say it is not unusual.
"The security is because it was a murder case. It has nothing to do with the defendent in this case. He's not considered an unusually significant security risk. It is just a murder case," Christine said.
No trial date has been set in Monroe County.
