Last evening, authorities were called to 1031 East Pine St, Mahanoy City for a domestic incident and fire.
While in route, Officers were advised that there were reported flames in the basement and a domestic dispute going on at the same residence.
Upon arrival at the scene officers saw heavy smoke coming from the residence of 1031 E. Pine St. Police also located the victim, Elrena L. Gibson, sitting on the sidewalk with massive head trauma. Gibson was bleeding profusely from her head and face. Gibson stated "Joe Yeich did this".
Witnesses told police that Yeich stated to them that Gibson tried to kill him, so he beat her up and set the house on fire, because the devil made him do it. Witnesses stated that Yeich ran around the corner and was located in a home on Market St.
Gibson was loaded onto a stretcher by EMS Personnel and transported to SCI Mahanoy, where she subsequently flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital near Allentown for treatment of her injuries.
Yeich was located at 1038 E. Market St. and was taken into custody. At the time he was taken into custody Yeich stated to police "the Devil made me do it".
EMS personnel told police stated that while treating the victim, Elrena Gibson, for head trauma they noticed a strong odor of Chemical Bleach.
Upon asking Gibson as to what happened, she told them that Joe Yeich poured bleach all over me. Gibson then continued to go in and out of consciousness.
Hospital personnel from Lehigh Valley Medical Center contacted the Mahanoy City police stating that they had secured the clothing of our victim, Elrena Gibson. The clothing was to have had chlorine bleach all over it.
Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal John Burns was called in to assist in the investigation of the fire. Trooper Burns concluded that the fire was in fact arson and was set in the basement portion of 1031 E. Pine St.
The deliberate setting of this fire caused the evacuation of approx. 20-30 neighbors into the sub freezing temperatures, and placed the threat of serious bodily injury or death to numerous Police, Fire and EMS personnel.
Yeich was charged with Aggravated Assault, Arson, Causing or Risking a Catastrophe, Criminal Mischief, Simple Assault, and Recklessly Endangering another Person. Yeich was arraigned by on-call District Justice Stephen Bayer and subsequently committed to the Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $50,000 straight cash bail.
This information is posted from Mahanoy City Police Department Facebook page
