Mother Says Victim’s Life Was On An Upswing

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The mother of a woman slain in Northampton County Sunday remembered the time her daughter helped deliver a baby goat about two years ago on the family farm in Hunlock Creek.

“The goat needed help and, as gross as it was, she reached in saved that animal,” said Elaine Smith, who lives in Nanticoke.

Amanda Stratford, 28, of Wilkes-Barre and Nanticoke, was found dead around 11:30 Sunday night in a pickup truck in Easton. The Northampton County coroner ruled her death a homicide after she was shot multiple times.

Smith and her husband did not get word of her death until Wednesday when the coroner called. Unanswered questions swirl around the woman’s death. Run-ins with the county judicial system speckled her past, and Easton police say her death was drug-related. Smith knows her daughter had trouble with the law years ago, but she said things seemed to be on the upswing.

Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/866319/Mother-says-victims-life-was-on-an-upswing

Police: Easton Slaying Victim Connected To Drug Trade; Won’t Comment On Motive

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Four days after a 28-year-old woman was found shot to death in the West Ward, Easton authorities identified her and said she is linked to the drug trade, though they would not comment on a motive.

Authorities said Thursday they had no current address for Amanda Stratford, but online searches link the victim of Sunday’s homicide to the Wilkes-Barre area, where she lived for several years.

Easton police Lt. Matthew Gerould would not comment on a motive in the slaying, nor say if authorities have any suspects in custody, but said she likely knew her killer or killers. He said investigators were releasing Stratford’s street nickname, “Money,” in hopes that anyone who knew her may come forward with information.

Stratford was involved in drug trade “in and around” Easton and other areas, Gerould said.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-easton-homicide-victim-identified-shooting-20130926,0,2668397.story#ixzz2g6mGOcX0
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