Designated ‘material witness’ in Balester homicide trial
Frederick Balester, left, and Thomas Hunter
Times Leader File Photo
WILKES-BARRE — A Hanover Township man who was released from prison Friday after Luzerne County prosecutors dropped criminal homicide and conspiracy charges returned to court Monday and was placed on unsecured bail.
Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael T. Vough granted a request by prosecutors to designate Thomas Joseph Hunter, 64, of Auman Lane, as a material witness in the homicide case against Frederick Balester.
Hunter was released on $20,000 unsecured bail and is required to report to his attorney, Luzerne County Chief Public Defender Joseph J. Yeager, twice a month and to cooperate with prosecutors.
Meanwhile, Frederick Balester, 69, of Constitution Avenue, Hanover Township, is scheduled to appear before Vough on Tuesday for a motions hearing where his attorneys, Theron J. Solomon and Nicole M. Psaila, are seeking to exclude a large volume of evidence they believe was obtained through defective search warrants. Solomon and Psaila further allege that the collection of three latex gloves resulted in DNA contamination.
Frederick Balester is accused of fatally stabbing his cousin, Jonathan Balester, 56, inside the victim’s home in Kingston Township in May 2011.
Pennsylvania State Police, Troop P, investigators in court records allege Frederick Balester killed Jonathan as they were in a dispute about selling the family business, Balester Optical. Jonathan Balester was the lone holdout on selling the business, court records say.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Gary Ross, now retired, previously testified Jonathan Balester suffered 17 stab wounds.
Hunter was arrested and charged with criminal homicide and conspiracy charges by the state police on May 7, 2026, the same day he was questioned about the killing.
During a previous court proceeding, Hunter testified Frederick Balester picked him up and drove to Jonathan Balester’s house on May 25, 2011. Outside the home, Hunter claimed Frederick Balester gave him a pair of latex gloves and instructed him to say he wore them to pull weeds if asked by Jonathan Balester.
Hunter further testified during the previous court proceeding that Frederic Balester and Jonathan talked for about five minutes before Frederick Balester stabbed and stunned him with a Taser.
Hunter claimed he was not aware and did not have knowledge of Frederick Balester’s alleged intentions.
Last Friday, Assistant District Attorneys Jill Matthews, Gerry Scott and Julian Truskowski withdrew the homicide and conspiracy charges against Hunter, who was released from prison after spending 106 days in prison since his May 7th arrest.
Jonathan Balester’s body was found during a welfare check after he missed a board meeting at Balester Optical on May 26, 2011.
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