Purse-snatching suspects charged in theft of charity money container

PLAINS TWP. – A homeless couple accused of going on a purse-snatching spree to feed their heroin addition are facing more charges for allegedly stealing a donation container for the family of the late state police Trooper Joshua Miller.

Jenkins Township police allege Tanya Lynn Karasinski, 23, and Jason Raymond Edwards, 27, conspired to steal the donation container from the counter at the Donut Shoppe, state Route 315, on Sept. 1.

The container had approximately $200 to $250, and a picture of Miller’s family.

Miller, a state police trooper from Pittston Township, was killed in the line of duty in Monroe County in June while attempting to save a kidnapped boy.

Police said the surveillance system at the restaurant recorded Karasinski standing near the counter and waiting until an employee turned away to steal the canister, according to arrest records.

Karasinski ran out of the store and sped away in a vehicle driven by Edwards, police allege.

Nanticoke police arrested the pair on Sept. 1 when they were spotted leaving Weis Markets in Nanticoke after they allegedly attempted to steal a purse from a vehicle in front of Fetch’s Market in Plymouth.

After their arrests, Edwards and Karasinski confessed they stole purses from vehicles near shopping centers on the same day in Edwardsville, Shavertown and Wyoming, according to the criminal complaints.

Karasinski said she and Edwards were sick from heroin withdrawal on Sept. 1, and Edwards “checked out” a coffee shop in Jenkins Township.

Edwards had Karasinski enter the Donut Shoppe, where she stole the donation canister, the criminal complaint says. Police said Edwards was driving a stolen Oldsmobile that he abandoned after the theft at the Donut Shoppe.

Police in Edwardsville, Kingston Township and Wyoming filed theft-related charges against the pair.

According to Luzerne County Court records, Karasinski is facing four counts each of theft and criminal conspiracy, and one count each of receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia in county court.

Edwards is facing four counts of criminal conspiracy and a single count of theft in county court.

Edwards is scheduled for preliminary hearings on Oct. 28 before District Judge Paul Roberts in Kingston for Edwards’ alleged role in stealing a purse in Edwardsville, and on Nov. 3 before District Judge Donald Whittaker in Nanticoke.

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The donations were meant to help the family of slain Trooper Joshua Miller.

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