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Darlene Ewalt had no idea she was being stalked as prey as she talked on a cell phone with a family friend outside her West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, home.
Ewalt never saw her attacker coming when she was stabbed in the heart and had her throat slashed during the early morning hours of July 13, 2007, Dauphin County District Attorney Edward Marsico said.
On Wednesday, more than a year later, police charged Adam Leroy Lane, a 44-year-old interstate trucker from Jonesville, N.C., with Ewalt's murder.
Police allege that Lane went on a violent tri-state killing and slashing spree in July 2007 and that Ewalt was his first victim.
Four days after killing Ewalt, police allege, Lane tried to kill a 37-year-old York County woman. Lane slashed Patricia Brooks' throat and left her for dead inside her Bowers Bridge Road, Conewago Township, home July 17, police said.
Twelve days after slashing Brooks, police said, Lane killed 38-year-old Monica Massaro by repeatedly stabbing her inside her Bloomsbury, N.J., home.
Lane was arrested July 30 in Chelmsford, Mass., where he attacked a 15-year-old girl with a knife. The girl's parents heard whimpering and caught Lane inside their daughter's bedroom, according to police. The teen's father restrained Lane until police arrived. Lane pleaded guilty to the attack and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Using DNA testing and sharing evidence collected by law enforcement in three states, police built cases against
After Lane's arrest, investigators found knives, a scouting scope and a DVD called "Hunting Humans" inside Lane's truck. A test of the knife found DNA matching Ewalt's, Marsico said. A similar DNA test on black gloves found near the York County crime scene also matched Brooks and Lane, according to police.
Lane is being held in a New Jersey prison. He will not return to Pennsylvania to face charges of first-degree murder, possessing instruments of crime, and loitering and prowling at night until his case is resolved in New Jersey, said Fran Chardo, first assistant district attorney in Dauphin County.
Because of the violent and sadistic nature of the Ewalt killing, Marsico said he is considering pursuing the death penalty.
"It is terrifying to think a woman like this was struck down on her own backyard like this," Marsico said. "He is a dangerous individual."
Marsico said Lane randomly selected his victims. Because of the transient nature of his trucking, law enforcement officials up and down the East Coast are investigating if Lane was involved in other unsolved crimes, he said.
Using trucking records, police placed Lane in Pennsylvania during Ewalt's attack. He picked up a load in Manchester Township on July 11, made a delivery in Berwick July 12 and made a pickup in Spring Grove July 13.
During each of the four slashings, police said, Lane selected homes near a truck stop and used a knife.
Marsico said police are trying to determine what motivates Lane to violence.
"I think he hates women. He is targeting women," he said.
ALLEGATIONS
--- July 13, 2007: Darlene Ewalt, 42, was found dead outside her West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, home with her throat slashed. Adam L. Lane is charged with murder.
--- July 17, 2007: Patricia Brooks, 37, had her throat slashed inside her Conewago Township, York County, home, but survived the attack. Lane is charged with trying to kill her.
--- July 29, 2007: Monica Massaro, 38, was found dead with her throat slashed inside her Bloomsbury, N.J., home. Lane is charged with killing Massaro.
--- July 30, 2007: A 15-year-old girl was attacked with a knife inside her Chelmsford, Mass., home. Lane pleaded guilty to the attack and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
