Suspect identified in Hazleton burning body investigation

Yahoo

06-05-2025

May 5—WILKES-BARRE — A man who supplied pain medications to Jessica Ann Lockwood was publicly named her killer during a news conference Monday.
Terence Leroy Ray, 55, is accused of fatally beating and shooting Lockwood, 39, inside his residence at 137 Muir Ave., Hazleton, before dumping her body he set on fire on Club 40 Road in Hazleton on April 27, according to court records.
Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce, Hazleton City Police Chief Brian Schoonmaker and Assistant District Attorney Daniel Marsh made the announcement when a criminal complaint charging Ray with criminal homicide, tampering with evidence and abuse of corpse was released. The criminal complaint was filed April 29 under seal.
Sanguedolce said the intense investigation by Hazleton police, Pennsylvania State Police at Hazleton and county detectives allege Ray's Ford Explorer was recorded by surveillance cameras leaving his residence and traveling to Club 40 Road before returning to his home in the early morning hours on April 27.
Shortly after Lockwood's body was found, investigators served a search warrant at Ray's residence where, Sanguedolce said, evidence to Lockwood's murder, including an earring, was found in the basement.
Lockwood's body was found when the Hazleton City Fire Department responded to a report of a possible mannequin on fire on Club 40 Road near East Broad Street at about 7 a.m. April 27.
Upon arriving at the fire, firefighters discovered Lockwood's body wrapped in a tarp after the fire was extinguished.
The tarp protected Lockwood's body, who had an earring in one ear that matched the earring found in Ray's residence, court records say.
An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Charles Seibert revealed Lockwood died from blunt force trauma and a gunshot wound to her chest. The manner of death was ruled a homicide by Luzerne County Acting Coroner Kaitlin Keating.
Sanguedolce said Lockwood was reported missing by her family when she failed to pick up her son on April 26. A cell phone tracker located Lockwood's phone on state Route 424 hours after she was reported missing.
Investigators say text messages from Lockwood's phone revealed she was conversing with "Og," who was identified as Ray, regarding the purchase of pain medications, court records allege.
Lockwood's husband, James Anthony Lockwood, 34, told investigators his wife purchased pain medications from Og due to an addiction caused by neck surgeries.
Lockwood's last text message was recorded at 2:33 p.m. on April 26, stating she had to pick up her son.
Evidence found at Ray's residence include a pool of dried blood, blonde hair that matched Lockwood's, one earring, a trash bag covered in blood and a torn piece of clothing that matched fabric wrapped round Lockwood's legs, court records say.
Court records say surveillance footage showed Ray moving Lockwood's 2022 Honda from his residence to about a block away at 3 p.m. April 26.
Hours after Lockwood's body was found, Ray told a person known to police, "I (expletive) bad. I won't see you guys again," according to court records.
Ray's cell phone has been turned off as Sanguedolce believes he obtained another unknown vehicle to flee the area.
"Mr. Ray is believed to have fled Luzerne County and is out of the area and is currently being pursued by police of many jurisdictions. Anyone with information of Mr. Ray's whereabouts is asked to call Hazleton City police at 570-450-2080," Sanguedolce said.
Court records allege Ray's wife and children may be in his company.