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.