Update: Double Homicide, Suicide Ruled in Gilbertsville Incident
GILBERTSVILLE PA – An adult son and his wife – Stephen J. Mihalcik, 56, and Rebecca Hall Evans, 51 – were murdered by gunshot Monday (Sept. 14, 2020) shortly after 8 p.m. by the son’s father, Gerald E. Mihalcik, 78, at the father’s home in the 2900 block of Reifsnyder Road, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, in what he confirmed was a domestic incident.
The father then reportedly turned the gun on himself, and died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Steele and New Hanover Township Police Chief Kevin McKeon jointly reported Tuesday (Sept. 15) in a media release.
Two children also lived in the house, Steele said. He gave no indication if they were on the premises when the deaths, which the county Coroner’s Office ruled were a double homicide and suicide, occurred.
New Hanover police arrived at the home in response to the reported shooting, and found a deceased female, identified as Evans, and a deceased male, identified as father Gerald Mihalcik. Evans’ husband, Stephen Mihalcik, was found alive and transported to Reading Hospital but died during treatment, according to the announcement.
Autopsies conducted Tuesday by the coroner attributed the severity of gunshot wounds as the causes of death for all three.
Steele, who offered condolences to surviving family members, called the incident “a tragedy” and said his office was “seeing more domestic violence homicides in Montgomery County this year than ever before.” He urged anyone “living in a violent situation at home (to) please call for help.”
Police are ready to respond to 9-1-1 calls, the DA said, and agencies within the county providing help include the Laurel House hotline, 800-642-3150; and the Women’s Center of Montgomery County hotline, 800-773-2424. Both can assist with obtaining protection from abuse orders, seeking safe shelter, and other resources.
The Post published an earlier story on this incident in its Tuesday (Sept. 15) edition. It appears below.
Two Dead, One Wounded in Gilbertsville Shooting Incident
GILBERTSVILLE PA – Two individuals, an adult male and adult female, were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds Monday night (Sept. 14, 2020) around 8 p.m., and a third, an adult male, was seriously wounded in what the Montgomery County district attorney reports was a domestic-in-nature incident that occurred on the 2900 block of Reifsnyder Road in the Gilbertsville section of New Hanover Township.
There is no threat to the public, the office of District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, said in a media release, but few other details were provided.
The wounded male has been hospitalized; his condition was not reported. An investigation is under way, being conducted by the county Detectives Bureau and the New Hanover Police Department.
New Hanover police officers first responded to the scene, near the intersection of Reifsnyder Road and Angel Drive. They later were joined by fire and ambulance volunteers from New Hanover Township Fire Company No. 1, and the Gilbertsville Area Community Ambulance Service. Fire police were said by county dispatchers to have been placed on stand-by for a medical helicopter arrival.
Because some family members have yet to be notified, authorities said, none of the names of those involved have been publicly offered. As of Tuesday at 5 a.m., no charges were known to have been filed.
Anyone who may have information regarding the incident is asked to call New Hanover police at 610-327-1150 or the Detectives Bureau at 610-278-3368.
Photo by Tony Webster via Wikimedia Commons, used under a Creative Commons license
