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Handgun stolen in Lebanon County found at quadruple homicide

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Anthony Umbenhauer (Photo: Lebanon County Correctional Facility)

(Reading) — A handgun stolen by two Myerstown men accused in a slew of thefts in eastern Lebanon County and western Berks County has been tied to a quadruple homicide in Reading, state police said.

The handgun, a Ruger 9mm with a laser in the handle, was stolen from a home in the 500 block of W. Main Avenue home in Myerstown sometime in December or January, state police said. It was found by Reading City police at a quadruple homicide scene on Jan. 28, according to the massive criminal complaint against Myerstown residents Wayne Warren Roberts, 32, and Anthony David Umbenhauer, 30.

Both men have been charged with the burglaries and thefts, mainly from vehicles and sheds, of 35 residents in Lebanon and Berks counties between Oct. 1 and Jan. 5, the criminal complaint states.

On the evening of Jan.4, Roberts was transported to the state police barracks at Lickdale after his parole officer received and investigated a report that he was in possession of a firearm, which is a parole violation for Roberts, who is a “felon not to possess,” according to the complaint.

Roberts was found in possession of a black Taurus .380 handgun and a black Taurus 9mm handgun, the complaint said.

While in custody, Roberts told state police he would drive Umbenhauer around at night and that it was Umbenhauer who was “the main one stealing from sheds and cars in Myerstown,” the complaint states.

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Wayne Roberts (Photo: Lebanon County Correctional Facility)

Umbenhauer had been questioned earlier Jan. 4 by state police, the complaint said. He was supplying Roberts with methamphetamine in exchange for driving him around, Roberts told state police.

Items ranging from sunglasses, gift cards, purses and wallets to tools, jewelry and handguns were stolen from cars, sheds and the occasional residence.

On a night in December, Roberts told state police that he watched as Umbenhauer broke into several vehicles along Main Avenue in Myerstown, but came back to Roberts’ vehicle “after only a few cars which was unusual,” the complaint states.

Umbenhauer told Roberts “that he stole ‘something good,’” the criminal complaint says. Later, Umbenhauer came to Roberts, showed him the Ruger 9mm with the laser in the handle, and asked him how to get rid of the gun. 

Roberts did not know when Umbenhauer sold the firearm, according the complaint.

While Umbenhauer did most of the stealing, Roberts told state police that he broke into vehicles while Umbenhauer watched him on two separate occasions, one in Myerstown and one in Newmanstown.

A 55+ community trailer park near Ramona Road in Myerstown was where a residence was burglarized rather than a vehicle or shed.

Umbenhauer entered a residence, which Roberts said he thought was located at Sunny Side Estates, through an unlocked back door and came out with a purse.

On another occasion, Roberts dropped Umbenhauer off at a park near Speedway, 600 E. Linden St. Umbenhauer then walked through a field toward Linden Street, Roberts told state police.

Later, Umbenhauer called Roberts on his cellphone and told him to pick him up, and Roberts told state police that Umbenhauer sounded scared. He told Roberts that he entered a house through the back door, but couldn’t find any purses, so he took a silverware set, took it outside and then reentered the home.

As Umbenhauer attempted to climb the stairs to the second floor, he heard footsteps and fled from the residence, Roberts told state police.

A search warrant was issued for Umbenhauer’s vehicle and residence Jan. 5 and during the search Umbenhauer was found to be in possession of various stolen items including a paperback Bible stolen from a vehicle belonging to a Myerstown resident, who reported the book stolen from his vehicle in November.

The Bible had the victim’s name written on the inside cover. 

Umbenhauer told state police the items were given to him by Roberts or that he found them in a dumpster, the complaint says.

So far, the two men have been tied to thefts and burglaries at the following locations and dates:

  • 400 block of Millbach Road, Richland Borough, Oct. 31 to Nov. 1
  • 800 block of Linden St., Richland Borough, Oct. 31 to Nov. 1
  • 800 block of Linden St., Richland Borough, Oct. 31 to Nov. 1
  • 600 block of Elm St., Richland Borough, Oct. 31 to Nov. 1
  • 200 block of W. Park Ave., Myerstown Borough, Nov. 1 to Nov. 30
  • 400 block of Houtztown Road, Jackson Township, Nov. 8 to 9
  • 00 block of Ladybug Lane, Jackson Township, Nov. 8 to 9
  • 00 block of Orchard Lane, Jackson Township, Nov. 17 to 20
  • 600 block of Hill Top Road, Jackson Township, Nov. 21 to 22
  • 100 block of N. College St., Myerstown Borough, Nov. 21 to 22
  • 100 block of N. College St., Myerstown Borough, Nov. 21 to 22
  • 300 block of E. Main Ave., Myerstown Borough, Nov. 23 to 24
  • 100 block of Wintersville Road, Jackson Township, Nov. 24 to 25 
  • 00 block of  Walnut Drive, Jefferson Township, Berks County, Nov. 25 to 26
  • 00 block of Walnut Drive, Jefferson Township, Berks County, Nov. 25 to 26
  • 100 block of Dogwood Drive, Jefferson Township, Berks County, Nov. 25 to 26
  • 00 block of Walnut Drive, Jefferson Township, Berks County, Nov. 25 to 26
  • 100 block of  S. Race St., Richland Borough, Nov. 25 to 29
  • 100 block of S. Race St., Richland Borough, Nov. 25 to Dec. 5
  • 100 block of W. Washington Ave., Myerstown Borough, Nov. 27 to 28
  • West Park Street at Peach Street, Millcreek Township, Dec. 1 to 2
  • 200 block of West Main Ave., Myerstown Borough, Dec. 1 to Dec. 2
  • 200 block of W. Main St., Millcreek Township, Dec. 1 to 3
  • 100 block of W. Park Ave., Myerstown Borough, Dec. 1 to 29
  • 500 block of W. Main Ave., Myerstown Borough, Dec. 1 to Jan. 31 
  • 00 block of Host Church Road, Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, Dec. 3 to 4
  • 800 block of Tulpehocken Road, Jackson Township, Dec. 4 to 5
  • 800 block of Tulpehocken Road, Jackson Township, Dec. 4 to 5
  • 300 block of S. College St., Myerstown Borough, Dec. 5 to 6
  • 200 block of W. McKinley Ave., Jackson Township, Dec. 11 to 12
  • 00 block of E. Park Ave., Myerstown Borough, Dec. 12 to 13
  • 400 block of Broad St., Myerstown Borough, Dec. 12 to 13
  • 400 block of S. Broad St., Myerstown Borough, Dec. 12 to 13
  • 200 block of W. Carpenter Ave., Myerstown Borough, Dec. 18 to 20
  • 100 block of S. Locust St., Myerstown Borough, Dec. 18 to 20
  • 200 block of W. Maple Ave., Myerstown Borough, Dec. 18 to 20
  • 300 block of E. Carpenter Ave., Jackson Township, Jan. 2 to Jan. 3

Umbenhauer is charged with 109 counts of theft from motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, theft, burglary and criminal trespass.

Roberts is charged with 107 counts of theft from motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, theft, burglary and criminal trespass.

This story comes to us through a partnership between WITF and The Lebanon Daily News

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