Pa. man wanted for allegedly fatally shooting firefighter and burning her body on the roadside

HAZLETON, Pa. (TCN) — Police are searching for a 55-year-old man they allege beat and killed a woman, then burned her body on the side of a road.

On April 27 at 7 a.m., the Hazleton City Fire Department received a call from a passerby about a “possible mannequin on fire” near Club 40 Road and East Broad Street. Firefighters arrived and saw the object on fire was a human body, so they contacted the Hazleton City Police Department. Police identified the victim as Jessica Lockwood.

Family members reportedly became concerned about Lockwood when she failed to pick up her son at school on April 26. Officials tracked her phone to Route 424 and found text messages that she was meeting up with someone at a house on Muir Avenue.

Investigators matched a vehicle in the area to the Muir Avenue home, which belonged to the suspect, Terence Ray. Officials executed a search warrant at Ray’s residence and discovered a pool of blood and one of Lockwood’s gold earrings that had been missing from her body.

The Luzerne County Coroner determined Lockwood died from blunt force trauma and a gunshot wound.

On April 29, Hazleton Police filed an arrest warrant for Ray on charges of open murder, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence, but detectives learned Ray fled the area following Lockwood’s death.

In a press conference, Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said Lockwood had substance abuse problems due to chronic pain from several neck surgeries. She allegedly purchased pills from Ray, and her last known encounter was believed to be at his house.

Sanguedolce said that police found evidence that Lockwood was beaten and shot in the Muir Avenue home.

According to her obituary, Lockwood, 39, worked as as firefighter, trustee, and ambulance technician for the Harwood Fire Company. She “devoted much of her time to caring for the elderly” and “cherished her role as a mother” to her two children.

Hazleton Police said Ray is at large and should be considered dangerous.

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