News

June 16, 2009

Woman to face homicide charge in April stabbing

Shannon Chamberlain knifed woman in Wilkes-Barre, authorities say.

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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WILKES-BARRE – Shannon Chamberlain had a choice.

The choice she made had fatal consequences, said Luzerne County assistant district attorneys Richard Hughes and Rebecca Reimiller.

Investigators said Chamberlain, 27, fatally stabbed Sandra White, 42, on April 18 after an argument about a missing bank card.

Chamberlain, of Monroe Street, Wilkes-Barre, could have walked away, Hughes and Reimiller said, but she decided to attack White with a knife.

After nearly two hours of testimony during a preliminary hearing on Monday, District Judge Martin Kane in Wilkes-Barre determined prosecutors established a case against Chamberlain, sending an open count of criminal homicide to county court.

Shawn “Shea” Patterson, of South Hancock Street, Wilkes-Barre, testified she was with Chamberlain in Patrick Walsh’s apartment at 240 N. Main St. when White came in and began arguing with her about a missing bank card.

Walsh told the three women to leave his residence. He said a knife that he kept in his living room was missing after the three women left.

Patterson said she was holding onto Chamberlain while they were walking away when Chamberlain broke free and rushed at White.

“Shannon broke away from me and went back to Sandy as I walked away,” Patterson said. “I glanced back and saw hands in the air.”

Chamberlain caught up with Patterson telling her, “I stabbed that bitch; I told her I was going to stab her,” Patterson testified.

Responding to questions from Chamberlain’s attorney, William Ruzzo, Patterson said she didn’t see a knife. “I didn’t want to believe her; I didn’t see no blood, I didn’t see a knife,” Patterson said.

Samantha Mraz, a King’s College student, testified she was sitting on the front porch of a North Main Street residence and saw three women arguing. Mraz said two of them were walking away when, all of a sudden, one of them turned around and rushed at White.

“I didn’t see a weapon or anything like that,” Mraz said. “I thought she hit her.”

Afterward, Mraz said, the woman who was assaulted stumbled and leaned against a parked vehicle while the other woman hurried away.

Luzerne County Det. Dan Beky said a knife covered in blood was found on the sidewalk.

White was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township, where she was pronounced dead.

Coroner John Corcoran said an autopsy found that White, of North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, died from a single stab wound to the back.

Chamberlain remains jailed at the county prison without bail.

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