Pennsylvania man accused of murdering acquaintance, gambling away money she may have kept stashed in freezer: Police

Police in Pennsylvania investigating the robbery and stabbing death of a woman made in arrest for the crime with very little evidence to go on, authorities said.

Jerry Koezeno was taken into custody June 7 and charged with theft and the murder of Suzanne Pauswinski, Scranton’s WNEP-TV reported.

“These charges are being filed after an extensive two-month investigation conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police who did extraordinary work solving a crime that had no witnesses, no forced entry, and a victim with no enemies,” Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell said.

Investigators were able to identify Koezeno as a main suspect using surveillance video.

According to Pennsylvania State Police Capt. Pete Gutowski, footage allegedly shows Koezeno driving his car to and from Pauswinski’s apartment in Carbondale on March 29, the day she died.

Police said there was $1,400 missing from Pauswinski’s home and alleged Koezeno, who had known the victim for several years, may have gone to the victim’s home with the intent of stealing money she stored in her freezer. He allegedly had $5 in his bank account the day Pauswinski died.

Later that day, surveillance video police recovered shows Koezeno at AJ’s Bar & Grill, where he allegedly lost $775 cash while gambling.

“The evidence certainly suggests a premeditated killing that was thoughtful, that was executed with some degree of professionalism. So, I'll let you draw your own conclusions," District Attorney Powell said.

“This was a complete senseless and heinous killing of another human being,” Capt. Gutowski noted.