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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Taryn Simms&#8217; DNA was discovered at the home of 97-year-old Gertrude Price, who was found dead inside her Nanticoke residence in 2013, according to a recent court filing.</p><p>Simms&#8217; ex-boyfriend, Anthony Spudis, 36, was charged with killing Price during a burglary on East Grand Street on Nov. 28, 2013 &#8212; the day after Thanksgiving.</p><p>Spudis is facing the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder. His trial is set to begin May 28 before Luzerne County Judge Tina Polachek Gartley.</p><p>Simms&#8217; alleged connection to Price&#8217;s death remains questionable as she apparently gave different accounts. She has not been charged.</p><p>Simms told investigators she went with Spudis to Price&#8217;s house only after he confided to her that he may had killed a woman during a burglary, court papers say.</p><p>When Simms testified against Spudis at a preliminary hearing in April 2018, she opted not to answer any questions about being inside Price&#8217;s house.</p><p>Investigators allege Spudis entered Price&#8217;s home through a basement window with intentions to steal items but killed the elderly woman when confronted. Spudis left Price&#8217;s house and returned to a residence he shared with Simms at 2 W. Union St., Nanticoke, where he confided he may have killed a woman.</p><p>It was then, arrest papers say, Simms accompanied Spudis to Price&#8217;s address.</p><p>During Spudis&#8217; preliminary hearing, attorney John Pike suggested evidence tested at the state police crime lab showed Simms&#8217; DNA in various places: on a broken necklace next to a bed where Price&#8217;s body was found; on a flathead screwdriver believed to be the murder weapon; on a serrated knife; and on the busted basement window.</p><p>Pike was permitted by court order to cease representing Spudis due to a conflict of interest.</p><p>Spudis is now represented by attorneys Robert A. Saurman and Brian S. Gaglione, both of Stroudsburg.</p><p>In a recently filed pre-trial motion by Spudis&#8217; attorneys, they again pointed to Simms&#8217; DNA being found at the scene and on items inside Price&#8217;s house.</p><p>In response, assistant district attorneys Michelle A. Hardik and Daniel Zola acknowledged Simms&#8217; DNA was &#8220;present, in addition to that of Anthony Spudis.&#8221;</p><p>Simms&#8217; attorney, Nanda Palissery, could not be reached for comment Thursday.</p><p>Judge Polachek Gartley imposed a gag order prohibiting attorneys involved in Spudis&#8217; case from publicly discussing details.</p><p>Defense attorneys are seeking to have Spudis&#8217; statements to investigators thrown out, including evidence allegedly found in the basement of his West Union Street home.</p><p>A pre-trial hearing is set for April 10.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Anthony-Spudis-05112018.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Spudis </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Anthony-Spudis-05112018.jpg</photo0><caption0>Spudis </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Court records: DNA of murder suspect’s girlfriend found at scene