CLUB 40 MURDER: Man charged, sought in killing of Nuremberg woman

WILKES-BARRE – Police have a suspect in the brutal killing and burning of a Nuremberg woman and he is at large.

Terence Ray, 55, of Hazleton, was formally charged last Tuesday, two days after the body of Jessica Lockwood, of Nuremberg, was found aflame on Club 40 Road just off Broad Street in Hazleton.

Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce announced the charges Monday in a press conference at the courthouse in Wilkes-Barre.

He said Lockwood had been reported missing Saturday, April 26 — the day before her body was found — after she didn’t show up to pick up her son. The son was able to see the location of her cell phone and state troopers found it abandoned in the area of 84 Lumber on the Arthur Gardner Parkway, Route 424.

Sanguedolce said Lockwood had been suffering from substance use disorder, developed from the use of pain pills following neck surgery.

According to court documents, Lockwood’s last text message exchange was with a man identified as “Og” in her cell phone contacts setting up a transaction for an unknown item. Investigation found that “Og” was Ray, who Lockwood had met to purchase pills from prior.

Saturday night, Lockwood’s car was found a block from Ray’s house in the Hazleton Heights neighborhood and Sunday morning, her body was found after firefighters responded to a report of a mannequin aflame.

Instead, firefighters found Lockwood’s body aflame, naked and wrapped in a plastic tarp. The tarp sustained much of the fire damage, according to court documents.

She had a gunshot wound and one earring was missing with fabric tied around her legs. An autopsy showed that she had been beaten as well.

The Hazleton Police Flock system found that the last vehicle to enter Club 40 Road before the report was a vehicle registered to Ray’s wife.

Later Sunday, the Sentinel was there as Ray’s home was raided by the Hazleton Police Special Response Team along with Luzerne County detectives, state troopers, and Wilkes-Barre Police.

Inside, court documents say police found a large pool of blood, including a recent clean-up attempt, and an earring matching the one Lockwood still had. Two live 9mm rounds were found nearby as well.

Additional evidence was found in the trash. including fabric matching what was found binding Lockwood, the wrapper for the tarp that was burned, a spent shell casing, and bloody paper towels.

Police believe Ray has fled the region. Court documents say a confidential informant told police that Ray told them he “f—ed up bad, I won’t see you guys again,” and his phone has been off since. His wife and two children left Hazleton Saturday morning bound for upstate New York.

Sanguedolce said he believes Ray to be dangerous and asks anyone who knows his whereabouts to call police immediately. If you see him, do not approach.

Lockwood was a Harwood firefighter and leaves behind two children. A GoFundMe has been started to raise money for their support.

A basket raffle fundraiser is set for June as well.

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Kaylee Lindenmuth

Kaylee Lindenmuth is a Shenandoah native with a passion for journalism and the community she calls home.

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