According to court documents, Elissa Maria Anne Vilane, 36, of Townsend, Delaware, and Sean E. Mears, 43, of Philadelphia, were charged by the Pennsylvania State Police with multiple offenses, including felony burglary, criminal trespass, criminal conspiracy, and possession of instruments of crime.
Troopers with the Pennsylvania State Police, assigned to the Frackville Patrol Unit, reported that at approximately 12:14 p.m., an officer conducting a routine security check observed a red Honda sedan backed into the old boiler room on the southern end of the former Ashland Hospital property at 101 Broad Street in Butler Township, Schuylkill County. The property is posted with “No Trespassing” signs at all accessible points of entry.
After contacting Butler Township Police, troopers confirmed that no one had permission to be on the property. The vehicle reportedly contained several tools and bags in the back seat. Investigators also observed drag and wheel marks leading into the boiler room, along with footprints and fresh snow tracks entering the building.
Troopers, along with officers from Mahanoy City Borough and Butler Township Police Departments, entered the building to conduct a search. On the basement level, police located a rolling Klein Tools tool bag containing bolt cutters and other battery-powered cutting and prying tools. A reciprocating saw (Sawzall) was also found nearby.
Further into the basement, police located two individuals who were taken into custody and identified as Mears and Vilane. Police noted that Vilane was wearing a headlamp-style flashlight, while Mears was carrying a flashlight. Both were wearing work gloves, and Mears was also wearing plastic gloves underneath.
Investigators contacted the property owner, who stated that neither individual had permission to be on the premises.
Both defendants were arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli and committed to Schuylkill County Prison.
Mears was released after posting bail on Monday, January 5, 2026. Vilane remains incarcerated at Schuylkill County Prison.
A preliminary hearing for both defendants is scheduled for January 28, 2026, before Judge Tarantelli.