'I run this area': Man killed girlfriend, used a backhoe to dispose of her remains with help from his mother, prosecutors say

New details person been shared successful the Pennsylvania lawsuit of a antheral accused of sidesplitting his girlfriend, hiding her body, and past torching her vehicle.

Thomas Stanko, 55, has been charged with transgression homicide successful the presumed decease of 51-year-old Cassandra Gross, tribunal records show. He besides stands charged with reckless burning, tampering with evidence, and maltreatment of a corpse.

Stanko's proceedings began this week successful Westmoreland County court. Though Gross' assemblage has not been found, prosecutors person maintained that the suspect killed her successful the outpouring of 2018 and past worked to destruct each grounds of his crimes. He has pleaded not guilty.

As Law&Crime previously reported, Gross was past seen successful the metropolis of Greensburg connected April 7, 2018. Her conveyance was recovered burned the pursuing time astir 5 miles distant successful Unity Township, and her canine — unsighted and diabetic — was discovered wandering nearby.

Stanko was arrested days later, but helium wasn't formally charged successful Gross' disappearance until October 2022. Still, helium has been successful jailhouse since his 2018 apprehension and is serving a national condemnation connected weapon charges, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

Since neither Gross' assemblage nor a execution limb has been found, prosecutors are relying connected circumstantial evidence, including witnesser testimony, photos, and substance messages. They person painted a representation of a threatening man, according to section ABC affiliate WTAE.

Voicemails were played successful court, with 1 from October 2017 reportedly containing Stanko asking Gross wherever she was. "You're a cheater," helium allegedly said aft cursing. "A liar. I'm done."

Harry Berkey took the stand, saying helium lived betwixt Stanko and Stanko's parent and that successful 2018 arsenic helium was preparing his location to determination in, the suspect came up to him and said "I conscionable privation to pass you. I tally this area. You're going to person to play by my rules."

The neighbour added that helium knew Gross' reddish Mitsubishi SUV due to the fact that she would often sojourn her boyfriend, the TV presumption reported. She was acceptable to conscionable him astatine his location connected April 7, 2018, the time she was past seen, authorities contend.

Berkey seemingly besides recalled that, connected April 8, 2018, helium saw the reddish SUV propulsion up to Stanko's mother's residence, though helium couldn't marque retired who was driving. About 20 minutes later, Stanko's achromatic pickup motortruck came by with a backhoe attached to a trailer.

The Mitsubishi past near the defendant's mother's location slowly, Berkey said, per WTAE, and the parent and lad returned location aboriginal that day. Authorities judge Stanko killed Gross and past disposed of her assemblage with the assistance of his mother, who has since died.

More from Law&Crime — Woman told radical she was frightened of her hubby earlier helium killed her, met with a home unit advocator days earlier her disappearance: Authorities

Gross' mother, Kathe Gross, besides took the basal this week, and she said her daughter's narration with Stanko began aft the missing pistillate recovered a enactment connected her flat doorway from him stating, "If you privation a friend, telephone this number," according to section CBS affiliate KDKA.

According to Kathe Gross, her girl called her aggregate times crying and upset, saying Stanko was ringing her doorbell, lasting astatine her room window, oregon pounding astatine the location to get in. "If thing happens to me, marque definite b knows however overmuch I emotion him," Cassandra Gross reportedly wrote to her friend, referencing her son.

The defence has argued that prosecutors person nary evidence, with Stanko's lawyer reportedly stating his lawsuit had "no motivation" to termination Cassandra Gross.

The proceedings is expected to past 2 weeks.