Second Suspect Arrested in Murder of Northampton Jeweler William Glatz

Surveillance video of Obina Onyiah. (Philadelphia Police)

Philadelphia police announced the arrest of a career criminal in connection with helping prison escapee Kevin Turner murder William “Bill” Glatz of Northampton at his Rising Sun Avenue jewelry store in Philadelphia’s Northeast last month.

Philly cops say Obina Onyiah, 27, of Philadelphia who has a long rap sheet including robbery charges was arrested after being questioned at police headquarters.

Police say that Onyiah and recent prison escapee Turner, 22, cased William Glatz Jewelers before trying to hold-up the popular store which had been in the neighborhood for over 60 years.

The two men pulled guns on 67-year-old Glatz who then pulled out a pistol and engaged in a shoot-out with the would be robbers. In the end Glatz and Turner died in the store of their wounds.

In a released surveillance tape Onyaih is seen running out of the store after the shoot-out.

Onyaih had recently been released from jail after a three year federal sentence due to being found to have robbed several New Jersey banks.

Friends and family often wondered why Glatz kept the Philadelphia store open after the area surrounding it had become a haven for crime. Glatz would respond by telling family and friends he kept the store open because the neighborhood depend on him.

Glatz and his wife operated at second store on York Road in Warwick which opened several years ago.

Authoirties say Onyiah who is being held without bail was charged with murder, robbery and related offenses.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

Holland Man Admits to Stealing Half a Million; Faces 190 Years Behind Bars

On Thursday at Federal Court in Philadelphia Nathan Allen Kriegler who is a resident of the Holland section of Northampton plead guilty along with three others to selling close to $550,000 in stolen merchandise and selling it on eBay.com.

Nathan Allen Kriegler, 42 of Northampton plead guilty Thursday to the charges of theft, government property, wire fraud, and bank fraud.

U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger said that the three tried to defraud 19 retail corporations out of approximately $546,017 worth of merchandise and sold stolen goods including laptop computers, printers, scanners, toner, televisions,and industrial printing equipment on eBay.com.

Kriegler faces up to 190 years in prison and a $3.75 million fine, restitution payments to the victim companies and banks that he defrauded.

The two others involved with the scam Ryan A. Pollack, 34, of Elkins Park, and Evan F. Appel, 34, of Philadelphia are each facing a maximum sentence of 100 years in prison, a $1.25 million fine, and restitution payments.

Kriegler faced more charges and a greater punishment because he is also charged with theft of government property, wire fraud, and bank fraud charges in connection with three additional alleged fraud schemes he was involved in.

Read Previous Story of  Kriegler's arrest.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

Crash Sends 15-year-old to Hospital and SUV Into Back Yard



(Tom Sofield)

 Police say a 15 year-old male had to be extricated from a car in a bizarre car accident that left traffic backed up on Almshouse Road and a SUV in the back yard of a home in the Richboro section of Northampton Tuesday morning shortly after 7:30 a.m.

Northampton police say the Highlander SUV was slowing for traffic ahead when the older Sienna minivan, driven by a 17-year-old female, struck it from behind.

For unknown reasons the Highlander driven by Gwendolyn Scott-Hodges, 50, of Jamison sped off the road, across the frost covered front lawn of a home and into a back yard of a wooded home where it came to rest after striking a tree.

After traveling nearly 400 feet and entering the back yard of a home the Highlander’s right front wheel assembly was torn from the car.

Police say that Scott-Hodges had three teenage passengers in the SUV, two were not injured but Scott-Hodges and the 15-year-old male were.

(Tom Sofield)

After being extricated from the SUV by members of the Northampton Fire Department the 15-year-old male was taken by Tri-Hampton Rescue Squad to St. Mary’s Hospital in Middletown for injuries sustained to his shoulder and face.

Scott-Hodges refused transport to the hospital.

Police say there were no citations issued in the accident that backed up morning rush hour traffic on Almshouse Road.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

Fall is Here!



The view in Northampton Township near the Richboro shopping center this morning.
Today's weather was great compared to yesterdays awful humidity. Your Friday is looking great with sun, highs near 60 and a light breeze. (Tom Sofield)



Early Morning Crash Closes Bristol Road

Around 5:45 a.m. Wednesday morning a two vehicle accident closed Bristol Road between Knowles Avenue and Churchville Lane. The accident was caused by a car running the stop sign at Bristol Road and Bustleton Pike along the Upper Southampton, Northampton boarder. The accident left no one injured said Upper Southampton police.

Escapee Who Killed Jeweler; Escapee Got Help

Philadelphia Police told the Philadelphia Daily News that they are expecting arrests late this week in connection with the prison break of inmate Kevin Turner, 22, who days after his escape from Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility murdered Northampton jeweler William Glatz at his Northeast Philly shop.

William Glatz

Police suspect Turner received help escaping from the jail.

Turner is presumed to have escaped through a loading dock and then a vehicle as it was leaving the prison grounds.

The newspaper reports that police are still investigating the robbery that went wrong last Thursday which left Turner and Glatz dead.


Police are still searching for two more suspects in the murder which occurred on Rising Sun Avenue.


Story from last week on the murder.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

Escaped Inmate Murders Northampton Jeweler (with Video)

A jeweler who resided in the Holland section of Northampton was killed in an exchange of gunfire Thursday in Northeast Philadelphia after a botched robbery attempt.

The jewelry store owner William Glatz, 67, who also owns William Glatz Jewelry in Warwick was killed defending his Philadelphia store on Rising Sun Avenue when two men attempted to rob it.

Police report that Glatz was shot in the torso and pronounced dead at the hospital.

One of the robbers who was killed in the shoot-out Kevin Turner, 22, had escaped two weeks ago from a city jail.

Turner is also believed to have robbed a Gold Exchange in the city last week.

Philadelphia police are looking for two other people who were involved in the botched robbery, one a gun man who was caught on security camera fleeing the scene in black car with tinted windows and the other person police are looking for is the driver of the black car.

The Daily News reports that William Glatz Jewelry on Rising Sun Avenue was opened by William Glatz’s father William Glatz Sr. who emigrated here from Germany more than 60 years ago.

William or Bill as friends and family know him ran the Philadelphia store while his wife managed the Warwick store which opened about 10 years ago.

Friends and family often wondered why Glatz kept the Philadelphia store open after the area surrounding it has become a haven for crime. Glatz would respond by telling family and friends he kept the store open because the neighborhood depend on him.

Police are still investigating the robbery, looking for the two suspects and do not believe anything was taken in the robbery.

Below is surveillance video of the the suspect police are looking for:

If you have any information pertaining to the investigating contact Philadelphia Police at 215-686-3334.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

Former Bucks Teacher Guilty of Sexting Teen

A former William Tennent High School mathematics teacher was sentenced in Bucks County Court yesterday to three years probation and was ordered by the court to undergo treatment after he sent sexual messages to a 17-year-old boy he met at B&R Health Club in Feasterville.

Scott Bregman, 48, of Sunrise Court in Feasterville was charged and plead guilty to disseminating explicit sexual material to a minor and corruption of minors.

Lawyers for Bregman state that the teen and two of his friend prompted Bregman to make explicit remarks by asking him explicit questions.

District Attorney’s for Bucks County disagree saying that Bregman was the adult and should have known better.

Bregman a former teacher, camp counselor and high school baseball referee told the Doylestown court after he was sentenced that he was sorry for his actions.

The 17-year-old did not attend Tennent and therefore never was taught by Bregman.

Bregman who met the boy at B&R exchanged phone numbers with the boy after confronting him nude and engaging in a sexual conversation in the health clubs sauna room.Bregman also offered to help the boy with his school work.

The victim told Bregman he was a junior in high school.

On the night of April 1 of this year Bregman sent the boy a “digital picture of himself in a reclined position with his exposed penis roughly in the lower center of picture” according to court documents.

After the photo the boy contacted police from Northampton who spoke to Bregman who admitted to sending the photo of his penis.

When the charges were announced in June school was out for summer.

The court announced that Bregman is banned from being alone with anyone under the age of 18 except family.

The charges were not Megan’s Law offenses so Bregman does not have to register as a sex offender.

Bregman is now employed in the automotive industry.

The 17-year-old victim was not in court because he wanted to put the event behind him.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

Northampton Man Tried To Kill Wife

A 49-year-old man from Northampton was arrested early Thursday morning, hours after he attempted to murder his wife in a hot tub at their house on Edwards Drive the Bucks County Courier Times reported Tuesday morning.

Jim Wang, 49, tried to kill her with a hammer, ashtray and porcelain cup as they met in their hot tub after a two week separation.

Luckily for the victim his wife, Caixa "Carrie" Zhu, his attempts to kill her failed.

After his failed attempts to kill his wife he swallowed 50 sleeping pills and had to be rushed to the hospital shortly after police took him into custody.

The drama started Thursday afternoon when Wang went over visit Zhu at their home where he got into the second floor master bathroom, locked the door and told her to get in the hot tub that’s when he attacked her.

Zhu was able to escape her husband and fled to St. Mary’s hospital.

After she arrived at the hospital, staff called Northampton police who went to the upscale neighborhood located off Hatboro Road.

When police got to the home they spoke to Wang and spotted blood, they took him to the police station where he started vomiting and admitted to taking 50 sleeping pills.

After spending two days in the hospital Wang was released from St. Mary’s and charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault and is now being held on $1 million bail.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

Today's Weather is Looking Great!

A man enjoys an afternoon jog at Tyler State Park in Northampton Township.

Today's weather is looking great with highs in the low 70's and sun with clouds moving in late this evening.
Tonight the Phillies play the Reds in their hometown of Cinncinati where tempatures are expected to be in the mid-70's when the game starts at at 8:07 p.m.

Pictures from the Storm

DRENCHED

Police closed Byberry Road near Pioneer Road in Upper Moreland early Friday morning due to road flooding. (Tom Sofield)

We are live blogging the storm...click here to read...

A tree limb that fell along Second Street Pike in Upper Southampton Thursday afternoon as the storm began to intensify. (Tom Sofield)

More photos added at 10:45 a.m.

Lack of Rain

A once picturesque location looking out over Springfield Lake at the Churchville Nature Center in Northampton is disrupted by the receding water levels in the lake which has not seen significant rainfall in 18 days. Forecasters do see a chance of rain later this weekend as the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine reach the area. (Tom Sofield)

Holland Man Could Face 190 Years in Jail

A Holland resident was along with two other men was charged September 2 with wire and mail fraud after a plot to defraud 19 retail companies out of over a half a million dollars was uncovered.


United States Attorney Zane David Memeger announced Nathan Allen Kriegler, 42, Evan F. Appel, 34 of Philadelphia and Ryan A. Pollack, 34 of Elkins Park, Pa were in the illegal trade of selling stolen goods on popular internet website eBay.com. The stolen goods that were being sold on the internet included laptop computers, printers, scanners, toner, televisions, and industrial printing equipment.

Kriegler was also charged with making false statements, creating false documents which were tied to loans he had taken out. The United States Attorney also charged Kriegler with theft of government property, wire fraud, and bank fraud in connection with three other fraud schemes that were uncovered.

The three men got their hands on the stolen goods by purchasing the products by providing the companies with false and fraudulent payment information and once they received the goods re-sold it on eBay.

Plans Announced for Former Pizza Hut Location

The former Richboro Pizza Hut location (Tom Sofield)

Wells Fargo which owns two Northampton Wachovia locations is planning to do what many American’s are doing consolidating.


The two bank branches are planned to combine at a new location in the Richboro section of Northampton Township in Crossroads Plaza where the old Pizza Hut stands now.

Last Wednesday the Northampton Board of Supervisors approved the plan with the stipulation that the traffic flow exiting the proposed bank and existing shopping center would have to be changed.