Senior Yearbook Photo 1974
Senior Directory: Chorus 2, 3, 4; Art Club 2, 4; Latin Club 2, 3, 4; Spanish Club 3, 4; Medical Career Club 3, 4.
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Obituary published in the Williamsport (PA) Sun Gazette October 13, 1982
STABBING VICTIM’S FUNERAL FRIDAY
The funeral for Mrs. Janet A. Gatz, of Montoursville RD 2, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Gedon’s, 2101 Northway Road, The victim of a stabbing, Mrs. Gatz was pronounced dead on arrival at Divine Providence Hospital early Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1982.Officiating will be her pastor, the Rev. H. Richard Welliver, pastor of the Faxon-Kenmar United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Park.Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. ThursdayMrs. Gatz was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority International Chapter 684. A sorority ritual will be held at 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
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Article published in the Williamsport (PA) Sun Gazette October 12, 1982
Husband Charged; Confesses to State Police
WOMAN STABBED TO DEATH IN HOME
For the second time in less than a week, there has been a homicide in Lycoming County. A 26-year-old Montoursville RD 2 woman, identified as Janet Ann Gatz, was knifed to death early today in her Eldred Township home.
The victim’s husband, Mack Clifford Gatz, 29, is in the County Prison charged with the crime. Gatz was taken into custody at the scene by state police shortly after the stabbing. According to an affidavit filed at the office of Dist. Justice Gerald A. McGee, he told state police he had stabbed his wife during a domestic argument.
The affidavit stated that a man, who identified himself as Mack Gatz, called the state police barracks at 1:32 a.m. today, requested an ambulance be sent to his residence, and then stated that he had “just stabbed his wife.”
Troopers were dispatched to the scene, a two-story wood frame farmhouse about a mile south of Warrensville. The victim was found in an upstairs bedroom. Ambulance personnel from Eldred Twp. and county paramedics also were dispatched to the scene and were treating the victim when police arrived.
Mrs. Gatz, according to the affidavit, appeared to have been stabbed several times. She was reportedly stabbed with a kitchen knife with a serrated edge. The victim was pronounced dead on arrival at Divine Providence Hospital at 2:51 a.m. by George W. Gedon, county coroner.
Her husband was taken before McGee after being questioned at the Troop F headquarters. He was charged with one count each of criminal homicide and voluntary manslaughter and remanded to the prison without bail.
Gatz, according to the affidavit, made statements at the scene to a state trooper that he “was the person who stabbed his wife.” While being interviewed at the state police barracks, the affidavit stated, Gatz described the incident that resulted in the killing.
He stated that he had obtained a knife from the kitchen “after an argument had ensued” and that he “returned to the upstairs at which time the argument continued.” He then stated, according to the affidavit, that he stabbed his wife with the knife and telephoned the state police requesting an ambulance.
A preliminary hearing for the accused is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday before McGee. The investigating officer, Trooper Lynn W. Huffman, confirmed this morning that two children, ages three and seven, were present in the house when the stabbing took place. He said he did not know whether the children had witnessed the murder.
An ironic twist in the case is the act that today is Gatz’ 29th birthday anniversary. Gatz was arrested in late September and spent a short time in the County Prison on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants.
An autopsy on Mrs. Gatz was performed this morning at Divine Providence Hospital. Gedon said the autopsy determined the cause of death to be internal hemorrhaging as a result of a stab would “through the chest wall into the heat,” causing massive damage to the heart itself.
A contributing factor in the death, Gedon said, was a stab wound through the lower abdomen into the right kidney. The deceased had a total of nine stab and laceration wounds about the torso, both arms, left hand and left thigh, Gedon reported.
The victim was removed from the second floor of the home by ambulance personnel and paramedics, who transported her by stretcher from the bedroom, through a window and onto the porch roof.
Once on the roof, the stretcher was placed in the bucket of the Loyalsock Volunteer Fire Co. tower truck which had been called. The tower truck was used so cardiopulmonary resuscitation would not be interrupted while taking the victim to the ambulance.
The Gatz children were with the victim’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Steele, of Hughesville RD 1, at the hospital early this morning. State police later confirmed that the children are being cared for by the grandparents.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
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