web1_john_slaney1_faa.jpg

John Slaney dons Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins jersey once again

Our Opinion: Make the right call, NEPA; report suspected corruption to FBI

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A solemn candlelight memorial service on the south lawn of the Luzerne County Courthouse on Saturday night provided an opportunity for friends and family of Patricia Moreton to remember her as a mother, a sister and a friend.</p><p>Moreton, then 35, was found dead from a single gunshot wound on Jan. 31, 2006, inside her residence at 340 Hazle Ave. To date, no charges have been filed.</p><p>Those gathered shared the hope that the person responsible for her death would come to justice.</p><p>Her brother-in-law, Bob Ankudovich, said 10 years was simply too long.</p><p>&#8220;At first we thought the case would be solved,&#8221; said Ankudovich. &#8220;But it&#8217;s become harder to have hope.&#8221;</p><p>Moreton&#8217;s mother, Catherine Spielmann, however, said she will never lose hope.</p><p>&#8220;We always have hope,&#8221; she stated adamantly.</p><p>Spielmann, 74 and struggling with health problems, made it to the courthouse steps surrounded by family members.</p><p>Deborah Ankudovich, Moreton&#8217;s sister, said that her mother&#8217;s commitment to hope is contagious.</p><p>&#8220;When we&#8217;re ready to give up, we look to my mother to remind us that the person that murdered my sister will be caught,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Ankudovich said that, although her sister had struggled with an addiction, she was still much loved by her family and friends.</p><p>&#8220;She&#8217;s not going to get to see the next generation,&#8221; she said. &#8220;She would have loved to have seen the kids being born and growing up.&#8221;</p><p>Moreton&#8217;s niece, Melissa Jackson, of Wilkes-Barre, said she named her 8-year-old daughter Cadence Patricia to bring her aunt&#8217;s name and memory to their daily lives.</p><p>&#8220;We still continue to remember,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Always.&#8221;</p><p>Cathy Stephens, who has spearheaded the annual effort every year since her sister&#8217;s death, said she remains confident that there is someone out there with information that would lead to the identification and arrest of the killer.</p><p>She continues to have contact with the Luzerne County District Attorney&#8217;s Office and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, which has encouraged her to &#8220;keep the faith.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;We see on TV that cases are solved just with a hair or a fiber,&#8221; said Deborah Ankudovich. &#8220;We&#8217;re hoping that there is some evidence that might be re-examined so that the guilty person would be found and we would find some peace.&#8221;</p><p>As more than 20 friends and family members gathered, they took time to share a hug, a memory, a tear. It was evident that the group gathering year after year has a commitment to each other, to finding justice for Moreton and closure for family members.</p><p>&#8220;Every year, I hope that this will be the last year,&#8221; said Stephens, &#8220;that next year on this anniversary, we will gather at a restaurant and have dinner, finally knowing that Patty&#8217;s killer is caught.&#8221;</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL013116CandlelightMemorial2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Donna Jackson hands out candles to friends and family during a candlelight vigil on the ten-year-anniversary marking the death of Patricia Norton on Saturday. 1/30/16. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL013116CandlelightMemorial2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Donna Jackson hands out candles to friends and family during a candlelight vigil on the ten-year-anniversary marking the death of Patricia Norton on Saturday. 1/30/16. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL013116CandlelightMemorial3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Catherine Spielmann, 74, of Wilkes-Barre, carries a candle during a vigil Saturday outside of the Luzerne County Courthouse to remember her daughter, Patricia Moreton, who was murdered 10 years ago. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL013116CandlelightMemorial3-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Catherine Spielmann, 74, of Wilkes-Barre, carries a candle during a vigil Saturday outside of the Luzerne County Courthouse to remember her daughter, Patricia Moreton, who was murdered 10 years ago. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL013116CandlelightMemorial1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cathy Stephens, 52, of Larksville, wipes her tears away on Saturday as she remembers her sister, Patricia Moreton, who was murdered 10 years ago. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL013116CandlelightMemorial1-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Cathy Stephens, 52, of Larksville, wipes her tears away on Saturday as she remembers her sister, Patricia Moreton, who was murdered 10 years ago. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Patricia Moreton was killed in 2006</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

After 10 years, family of Patricia Moreton continue to call for justice