Change of status denied by judge

It looks like Larry has been denied having the charges lowered based on the information that the victim was not a tenant due to no contact stating as much between them. It seems as if the judge would like to have Larry stand trial for murder 2 versus manslaughter.

Larry is very resistant to a jury trial as he doesn't want to bring others into it. He needs to think about himself and others be dammed! If you contact him please tell him the value of being at the mercy of a jury versus a plea bargain as his only option.

The hearing is the 18th of November at the Norristown courthouse. So far there are several family members and friends that are going. Please keep in mind that we are attending a hearing to try and lessen some of the charges against Larry. This is not "THE SENTENCING". I have received 18 letters to present to the judge for sentencing. If you haven't gotten one to me, please e-mail me at phillyfjc@netzero.net. Thank you all for your support. Joy

Hearing update

The hearing is on the 18th of November in Norristown @ 9:00am. This is the last step before a trial I believe. More info to come shortly.

Not much new news

Basically we're in a "wait and see" pattern. No news might be good news. Larry is not getting back quickly. Larry's spirits change day to day. Write him and keep in touch.

Please write Larry

From his sister:

I ask of all of Larry's family and friend, Please, take the time and write a letter describing the Larry you know or once knew. I will be collecting these letters and presenting them to Larry's lawyer to give the judge at the time of his hearing. My e-mail is phillyfjc@netzero.com if there are any questions. I hope that we can make a difference for Larry. Thank you, Joy

(The address for Larry directly is listed on the left pane of the screen)

Larry missing

Apparently Larry was not available for the last visit due to "medical" reasons. Attempts to get more information were met with great resistance. His wife and mother left concerned and frustrated.

Subsequent calls led to voice mailboxes that were full.

Still figuring this out.

Murder charges held in landlord-tenant case

All charges were held for trial against a landlord accused of hitting his Abington apartment tenant in the head with a blunt object and killing him.

Larry Reese, the 44-year-old property owner, was embroiled in an ongoing dispute with Louis Malachowsky, who was renting an apartment from Reese. The tenant and landlord's contentious relationship came to a head over money matters, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.

Reese appeared before District Judge Joseph H. Dougherty for a preliminary hearing and afterward was returned to Montgomery County Correctional Facility. He is not eligible for bail.

In May, the DA charged Reese with second- and third-degree murder and abuse of corpse after he admitted hitting the 54-year-old man in the head with an electricians' insulator tool, then dumping the body in Philadelphia days later.

Reese, who lives in Lester, Delaware County, admitted to detectives that he got angry with Malachowsky after receiving an e-mail from him in April.

In the early morning on April 30, the property owner sneaked into the apartment at 2208 Hamilton Avenue carrying the tool he used in his work as an electrician for SEPTA, according to court papers.

Once inside the apartment, the landlord found the renter asleep on the couch. When the man awoke and saw Reese, he threatened to call police. Reese reportedly told investigators that he did not recall what happened next but admitted "I must have" hit Malachowsky.

According to the defendant, when he left the apartment after the confrontation, Malachowsky was "on the couch and mumbling." The tenant was set to move out in May. Prosecutors believe the landlord went to the apartment to kick the renter out.

Reese allegedly returned to the apartment a day or two after the incident and found the man dead on the sofa. At that time, the landlord tied him up, wrapped him up in a blanket and put him in a trash can, Ferman said in May. Next, Reese allegedly drove to Philadelphia to dispose of the corpse.

On Friday, May 1, Malachowsky's body was discovered in a vacant lot at 2200 E. Butler Street in the Frankford section of the city.

An autopsy performed by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office determined that the victim died as a result of a being hit on the head with a blunt instrument; however the injuries seemed minor and did not apparently kill him right away, according to court papers.

As a result of the autopsy findings, the DA concluded the injury didn't warrant a first-degree murder charge.

After learning from the Medical Examiner's that the victim may have been living in Abington, Detectives from the Montgomery County Detective Bureau and the Abington police began a joint investigation.

Reese and Malachowsky had been friends in the run up to the death, but the relationship had soured recently, according to investigators.

Prosecutors James Zoll and Frank Nero are handling the case.

Finally had the hearing.

The hearing was today. It went well over an hour and the defense attorney did a good job establishing holes in the prosecution.

Larry looked a little confused and tired but that is understandable.

The system grinds slow but it does move forward.

The judge was good in insisting that Larry be taken back to the prison directly to avoid being stuck in the cell overnight like before.

Update

Talked with Larry today.  He is doing well all things considered.  He jumps between being slightly depressed and then optimistic.  He is counting quite a bit that references will help his case and he might be right.  Prior to this he has a criminally clean record with a history of volunteering to help his community.  

The new date for the hearing is posted to the left.  His address is also over there.  How about people send him a letter or something just to show that you're thinking about him.  If you want throw in a money order since he has to pay for everything in there.  $25 means a lot more to him right now than it does to any of us.  

Despite everything...

Despite all that has happened Larry's spirits are up. He is being kept on his diabetes medicine and I'm starting to realize the degree to which him not maintaining his meds had impacted his behavior. The Larry that I talk to know, at times, seems to be more on the ball like the old Larry. I guess good can come from bad.

Better days

This was one of Larry's happiest days.

Larry Update

He has an attorney and things appear to be progressing (not sure if that is the right word). I think that he is starting to get a grasp on his situation. Until recently it seemed that he was just not in his right might. He still seems to phase in and out from time to time but I think that is the enormity of the situation weighting in on him.

Along with everything else his wife has been diagnosed with cancer and apparently a local police official is leaning on her and her daughters with accusations that are speculation at best.

Talked with Larry today

Talked with Larry. He is starting to comprehend what has happened and the long term consequences. I honestly feel after speaking with him that he did not realize what he did. I think that it was probably like people forgetting an accident and just remembering waking in the
hospital. That doesn't excuse what he did in any way but it makes you think about how they will gauge the punishment to meet the crime.

Better times

He'll pay his debt for what he did and start over fresh. The remorse is already there and all he has to do is put in the time. The death of anyone is a loss but the death of a friend at your own hands is something you have to live with well beyond the law says you've paid your debt.

Update on yesterday

Larry was brought down for a hearing that was canceled for no reason. The hearing was scheduled for 10am. He was kept in a holding cell in Abington until 2am the next day for reasons no one can explain. They were kind enough to slide some McFood under the door for him. Seems like either someone is incompetent or trying to wear him down for some reason. Either is really unacceptable.

What a waste of time!

Went to the hearing and it was a classic case of one hand not knowing what the other was doing. The judges office said he wasn't there but held at the police station and we could visit him there. Now we know damn well you can't walk in and visit someone held over in transit for a capital crime. We called and they said to called office that referred us to them in the first place. It's a loop.

Apparently there is no progress on getting people on the visitors list or him getting his meds, etc. as the "person" is on vacation. So the whole flow of the system can be stopped by one person out because they ate bad brisket...it's crazy enough to be true unfortunately.

Original News Video

Interesting how the story slightly changed from this inital report.

Police Charge Man With Murder

Larry Reese entered the Willow Grove apartment of his former friend and tenant Louis Malachowsky April 30 armed with an electrician’s insulator.

The two had been feuding and, although Reese said he does not clearly remember the circumstances, he told police he “must have” hit the victim with the insulator.

The next day, Malachowsky’s body was found in a parking lot in the Frankford section of Philadelphia.

Abington police and Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman announced May 20 that Reese, 44, of the 200 block of Pontiac Street, Lester, Pa., would be charged with second degree murder, third degree murder, burglary, possessing an instrument of crime, false reports to law enforcement, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.

Malachowsky was 54 years old and was planning to leave the apartment he rented from Reese on the 2200 block of Hamilton Street in Willow Grove, to pursue a business venture in Atlantic City.

“The victim was not currently married. His profession, I guess you could call him an entrepreneur,” said Abington Township Deputy Chief John Livingood.

According to Livingood, Reese owns several properties in Abington, including the one where the murder took place.

Abington Detective Jack Parks and Montgomery County Detective Richard Nilsen first interviewed Reese in connection with the murder May 13. According to police, Reese told them that Malachowsky had sent him an e-mail threatening legal action for no discernable reason, and had suddenly vacated the apartment that he rented from Reese.

After further investigation, Detectives Parks and Nilsen interviewed Reese again May 15. During this interview, Reese admitted that after receiving the threatening e-mail from Malachowsky April 30, he went to his apartment. Reese told police he intended to scare Malachowsky with the insulator, part of which resembles a gun barrel.

When the detectives asked Reese whether he hit Malachowsky, he replied, “I don’t remember. I must have.” Reese told police he left the victim “on the couch and mumbling.”

According to police, Reese returned to the apartment early May 1 to find his friend dead. He wrapped the body in a red blanket and placed it inside of a large trash can. He drove the body into Philadelphia and disposed of it in a vacant lot at 2200 E. Butler Street.

Reese then returned to the apartment and cleaned blood stains from the walls and carpet, then removed Malachowsky’s belongings to give the appearance that the victim had moved out, police said.

According to Livingood, Reese is cooperating with police “to an extent.” Reese is being held without bail at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. May 27, before Magisterial District Judge Joseph H. Dougherty.

Something to watch

Pay attention to this. It speaks a great deal about the emotions than can drive someone.

Shock and awe

This is simply not passing. The shock is still there. I've been through some things before but this one hits me in the face as hard each time. It's tough to fathom the entirely of what is happening. All I would like to see is that Larry be judged by the entirety of his life and be held accountable with respect to to degree to which he was in control of his actions and NOT be tried in the court of public opinion.

If you are the type that prays then pray that everyone does the right thing and not merely works to compound a wrong thing.

Hearing info

Larry's hearing is in Abington on Wednesday @ Old York & Rockwell Rd. 10am - on 27th

First visit.

Larry was visited by his sister and mother today. They both reported back that he looked better than they'd seen him in years. More than likely the prison is more stringent about insisting he take his meds than his spouse was. Speaking of her she has yet to visit him in prison and he wants very much to see her but she has stopped communication with him it seems at this point. Hopefully that will change.

Friendship is co-operative and supportive behavior between two or more people. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, and affection and respect along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis. Friends will welcome each other's company and exhibit loyalty towards each other, often to the point of altruism. Their tastes will usually be similar and may converge, and they will share enjoyable activities. They will also engage in mutually helping behavior, such as exchange of advice and the sharing of hardship. A friend is someone who may often demonstrate reciprocating and reflective behaviors. Yet for many, friendship is nothing more than the trust that someone or something will not harm them.

Value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating the following on a consistent basis:

• the tendency to desire what is best for the other,
• sympathy and empathy,
• honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one's counterpart,
• mutual understanding.

Wedding picture

Docket info

Here is the info from the county on the upcoming case and charges.

That look...

That look on Larry's face in the mugshot...what is it? Is it the face of a cold blooded killer staring down his accusers? No, it's the human equivalent of a "deer in the headlights". It, more than anything else, stands as proof positive that he STILL is not aware of what is going on around him and without taking too much of a leap it seems to give an overall peek into his state of mind.

FYI - Visitation Info / Public Defender

You can only visit if you are on his list. The days to see him are Tuesday and Saturday. Changes can only be made to the list on Fridays. So to go on the next Tuesday you would have to be added the Friday prior.

Pa police: Man got rid of tenant by killing him

An Abington landlord ousted his tenant by killing him and then dumping his body in a vacant lot in Philadelphia, according to authorities.

But the killing was not the result of a typical landlord-tenant dispute, claimed Montgomery County (Pa.) District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.

Landlord Larry Reese, who leased an apartment in the 2200 block of Hamilton Avenue to his one-time friend Louis Malachowsky, had grown tired and then angry over Malachowsky's alleged incessant demands for money, said Ferman.

These demands were described as "extortion" by one witness, said Ferman, while declining to detail those demands.

Whatever the demands, Ferman said, they were not sufficient to justify murder.

"(Reese) wanted the victim out of his apartment and out of his life," said Ferman.

Reese, 44, of Lester in Dela-ware County, Pa., was arrested Wednesday and arraigned on charges of second- and third-degree murder, abuse of corpse, lying to police and related offenses.

Reese, who is being held in the county jail without bail, could receive a mandatory life sentence if convicted of second-degree murder.

Malachowsky, 54, died as a result of head injuries he suffered after being hit in the head with a pipe-like tool used by electricians.

Prior to his arrest, Reese had been employed some 20-plus years as an electrician with SEPTA. Reese also was a non-paid and non-armed volunteer Abington Township special police officer who helped to direct traffic at community events and religious services.

Reese, angry over text messages he had been receiving from Malachowsky, went to the apartment during the early morning hours of April 30. He "armed" himself with the tool, which he believed looked like a gun, to scare Malachowsky out of the apartment, according to the criminal complaint.

Malachowsky, who had been sleeping, woke up to see Reese standing in the apartment and threatened to call police, the complaint said. Reese told authorities he shouted back at Malachowsky and then apparently hit him on the head with the electrician's device, although he does not recall doing it, according to the criminal complaint.

Reese said that when he left the apartment, Malachowsky was still alive, the complaint said.

Reese returned the following day and found Malachowsky dead on the couch. He wrapped the lifeless body in several blankets before he placed it in a large trash can, the complaint said. Driving his pickup truck to the Frankford section of the city, Reese then dumped the body out of the trash can and onto a vacant lot before leaving, according to the complaint.

Reese and his wife subsequently allegedly removed Malachowsky's belongings and cleaned the apartment to remove any blood, the complaint said.

Philadelphia police found Malachowsky's body on the evening of May 1, the same day it was dumped in the lot.

Questioned by police, Reese "concocted" a story that Malachowsky was scheduled to move out on April 30, Ferman said. He told police that he and his wife went to the apartment the following day to clean it up for future tenants, according to the complaint.

Claiming that Malachowsky was being treated for cancer, Reese told detectives that his wife had to clean up blood stains from the floor because Malachowsky sometimes would vomit blood in reaction to medication he was taking, according to the complaint.

Ferman said that, while Malachowsky was being treated for cirrhosis, authorities had no evidence that he had cancer.

No charges have been filed against Reese's wife at this time but the investigation is continuing, said Ferman.

May 21, 2009 03:11 AM

Intake record

Copy of Larry's intake record.

Landlord accused of murdering tenant

Published: Thursday, May 21, 2009

By KEITH PHUCAS
Times Herald Staff

COURTHOUSE — A landlord embroiled in an ongoing dispute with a tenant allegedly sneaked into the apartment the Abington man was renting and killed him last month.

On Wednesday, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman charged 44-year-old Larry Reese with second- and third-degree murder and abuse of corpse after he admitted hitting Louis Malachowsky in the head with an electricians’ insulator tool, according to authorities.

The tenant and landlord’s contentious relationship came to a head over money matters, police report.

“The victim was continually trying to get money from his landlord,” Ferman said. “There was clearly some shenanigans with respect to what the (tenant) was doing to the landlord.”

Reese, who is from Lester, Delaware County, reportedly admitted to detectives that he got angry with Malachowsky after receiving an e-mail from him.

“It was that (e-mail message) that apparently set the defendant off,” the DA said.

In the early morning on April 30, the landlord entered the man’s apartment carrying the tool he used in his work as an electrician for SEPTA, according to court papers.

Once inside the apartment, the landlord found the renter asleep on the couch. When the man awoke and saw Reese, he threatened to call police. He allegedly told investigators that he did not recall what happened next, but admitted, “I must have” hit the victim, reports indicate.

According to Reese, when he left the apartment, Malachowsky was “on the couch and mumbling.” The tenant was set to move out in May.

Prosecutors believe the landlord went to the apartment to boot the tenant out.

“It was clear to us that he went there to get the guy out (of the residence),” Ferman said.

Reese allegedly returned to the apartment a day or two after the incident and found Malachowsky dead on the sofa.

“At this time, (Reese) tied him up, wrapped him up in a blanket and put him in a trash can,” Ferman alleged, then drove to the Philadelphia to dump the corpse.

On Friday evening, May 1, Malachowsky’s body was discovered in a vacant lot at 2200 E. Butler Street in the Frankford section of the city.

An autopsy performed by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the man died as a result of a being hit on the head with a blunt instrument; however the injuries seemed minor and did not apparently kill the man right away. Ferman said the injury didn’t warrant a first-degree murder charge, the D.A. said.

After learning from the Medical Examiner’s that the victim may have been living in Abington, Detectives from the Montgomery County Detective Bureau and the Abington Police Department began a joint investigation.

Reese and Malachowsky had been friends in the run up to the death, but the relationship had soured recently, according to investigators.

District Judge Joseph H. Dougherty arraigned Reese Wednesday and remanded him without bail to Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 27 at 10 a.m. in district court.

Prosecutors James Zoll and Frank Nero will handle the case.

From the DA's homepage

MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
COURT HOUSE, NORRISTOWN, PA., BOX 311, 19404-0311
PHONE (610) 278-3090 FAX (610) 278-3095

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: RISA VETRI FERMAN

FIRST ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY: KEVIN R. STEELE

CHIEF COUNTY DETECTIVE: OSCAR P. VANCE, JR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2009

LARRY REESE CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF LOUIS MALACHOWSKY IN ABINGTON TOWNSHIP ON APRIL 30, 2009

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Abington Township Police Chief William J. Kelly today announced the arrest of Larry Reese for the murder of Louis Malachowsky in Abington Township on April 30, 2009. Reese is charged with Second Degree Murder, Third Degree Murder, Abuse of Corpse and related offenses.

On Friday evening, May 1, 2009, the body of Louis Malachowsky was discovered in a vacant lot at 2200 E. Butler Street in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. Malachowsky’s legs had been bound with a blanket. On Saturday, May 2, 2009, an autopsy was performed by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office on Malachowsky’s body. The forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy determined that the victim died as a result of blunt impact head injury and that the manner of death was homicide.

After learning from the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office that the victim may have been residing in Abington Township, Detectives from the Montgomery County Detective Bureau and the Abington Police Department commenced a joint investigation. Detectives learned that Larry Reese had been Malachowsky’s landlord and friend during the period before his death. However, their relationship had soured recently.

Detectives interviewed Larry Reese who admitted that he became angry with Malachowsky after receiving an e-mail from him. Reece admitted to police that he entered Malachowsky’s apartment in the early morning hours of April 30th armed with a heavy insulator, an electrician’s appliance that he used in his employment as an electrician for SEPTA. Reese found Malachowsky asleep on his couch. When Malachowsky awoke and realized Reese broke into his apartment, Malachowsky threatened to call the police. Reese told police that he did not recall what happened next but admitted “I must have” hit the victim. According to Reese, when he left the apartment, Malachowsky was “on the couch and mumbling.”

Reese told detectives that he returned to the apartment a day or two later and found Malachowsky dead on the sofa. Reese admitted wrapping Malachowsky’s body in a blanket, putting the body into a trash can, driving to Philadelphia and dumping the body in the vacant lot.
Prior to his arrest, in addition to his employment at SEPTA, Reese also served as an Abington Township Special Police Officer, a volunteer group that provides supplemental traffic direction support at community events and for religious institutions.

Magisterial District Judge Joseph H. Dougherty arraigned Reese today and remanded him, without bail, to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. The preliminary hearing in this matter is scheduled for May 27, 2009 at 10:00 AM before DJ Dougherty.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Zoll and Assistant District Attorney Frank Nero.
Approved for release:

District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman

Deputy Chief John Livingood, Abington Police

Posted on Thu, May. 21, 2009

Delco man charged in slaying of his Abington tenant

By WILLIAM BENDER
Philadelphia Daily News

Scrub the blood. Dispose of the body. Cover your tracks. Concoct a story.

Larry Reese, a SEPTA electrician who volunteered with the Abington Township police, didn't intend to kill his tenant during a predawn visit last month, authorities believe.

It wasn't until Reese realized what he'd done that he started to think like a murderer, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.

Reese, 44, of Tinicum Township, Delaware County, was charged yesterday with second-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and related offenses. Ferman said Reese has admitted bludgeoning Louis Malachowsky, 54, inside Malachowsky's Abington apartment April 30 - and later stuffing his corpse into a trash can and dumping it in a trash-strewn vacant lot in the Frankford section of Philadelphia.

"The landlord and tenant had a bad relationship that was getting worse," Ferman said. "It was getting very contentious, and it appeared that the victim was trying to get money for some unspecified reason from the landlord."

The two were friends once, authorities said, but the relationship had soured, and Reese apparently wanted to intimidate Malachowsky into leaving when he entered the Hamilton Avenue apartment with a heavy insulator, a cylindrical tool from his SEPTA job.

Ferman said it's unclear whether Malachowsky was trying to extort money from his landlord, but Reese told police that Malachowsky had sent him a "nasty e-mail" threatening legal action, according to the criminal complaint.

Reese allegedly entered the apartment with a key, awakened Malachowsky and killed him with a blow to the head.

When detectives asked him if he'd hit Malachowsky, he responded, "I don't remember. I'm sure I must have," the complaint states. When he left, he said, Malachowsky was "on the couch and mumbling."

Investigators later found traces of suspected blood on Malachowsky's carpet and walls.

Reese initially explained the presence of body fluids by saying that his tenant had stage-IV cancer and could not control his bowels, but Ferman said that now appears to be a "ruse designed to hide from the detectives how the blood might have gotten there."

She said Reese was charged with second-degree murder, as opposed to first-degree, because the evidence shows that "he clearly did not intend to kill" Malachowsky.

He was arraigned yesterday and was being held without bail at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Lower Providence Township.

Reese had served as an Abington Township special police officer, a volunteer position in which he helped to direct traffic at community events.

No one answered the door yesterday at his Tinicum home, but a neighbor who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation described Reese and his wife as "strange birds." They moved into the duplex around Halloween and "don't fit in" on the quiet block of Pontiac Street, the neighbor said.

"They both have tempers," the neighbor said.

Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow; don't walk behind me, I may not lead; walk beside me, and be my friend.

-- Albert Camus

More than just a #.

Larry has made a mistake. A single mistake should not define a life and that is why we have forgiveness.

This is not Larry Reese

The Larry Reese that I have know for the past 30 years would not harm a fly. I am not some rainbow hugging freak that thinks this is a mistake. What happened happened and it was wrong plain and simple! The person that did that was not the person we've all known. Something in him clearly snapped, changed, went south or something.

The person that we knew needs us to stand by him now to help him get through this horrible thing that he must take responsibility for.

Leave the judgments for higher powers...just be there.

Booking Photo of Larry

Landlord Charged With
Murdering Tenant

Prosecutor: E-mail Prompts Break-In,
Confrontation

PHILADELPHIA - Prosecutors said they have charged a Montgomery County man's landlord and friend with killing him earlier this month.

According to authorities, 44-year-old Larry Reese faces charges that include second- and third-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in connection with the April 30 killing of 54-year-old Louis Malachowsky in Abington Township.

Malachowsky's body was found the next day on a vacant lot along the 2200 block of East Butler Street in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. He had suffered a fatal blow to the head, an autopsy found.

Prosecutors said Reese admitted being angry with Malachowsky after receiving an e-mail from him. Reese told police he went to Malachowsky's apartment on the 200 block of Hamilton Avenue armed with a heavy insulator (an electrician's appliance he used in his employment with SEPTA) and his friend was asleep on the couch but awoke.

"There were some angry words and then the defendant just struck him with this insulator-type electrician's device," says Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman. "We had received information that the victim was trying to get money in some potentially inappropriate way from his landlord, from the defendant."

Reese told investigators that he doesn't recall what happened after Malachowsky threatened to call police. But Reese allegedly admitted "I must have" hit him, telling police that Malachowsky was "on the couch and mumbling" when he left.

Reese also admitted to police that he returned to the apartment a day or two later, found Malachowsky dead, wrapped his body in a blanket, put it in a trash can and drove it to Philly, dumping it in a vacant lot in the city's Frankford neighborhood.

In addition to his employment at SEPTA, Reese also served as an "Abington Township Special Police Officer," a volunteer group that provides supplemental traffic direction support at community events and for religious institutions, authorities said. He next faces a May 27 hearing.