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HANOVER TWP. — A jealous man fatally stabbed a romantic rival he found at home with his fiancée early Wednesday, township police and Luzerne County detectives allege.
James Andrew Cater, 30, of 702 Mark Drive, Hanover Township, remained at the scene after he stabbed Joseph “Joey” Lewis, 18, multiple times just before 5 a.m. inside the Marion Terrace apartment Cater shared with Jennie Lloyd.
When Cater spotted an officer, he put his hands above his head saying, “I’m here, I’m here, It’s me,” police reported.
Cater then sat on a concrete step in front of the apartment as police discovered Lewis’ body about 40 yards away near a Dumpster.
“I hope he doesn’t make it,” police said Cater blurted out.
Investigators said Cater told them it was not the first time he discovered Lewis with his fiancée: About a month ago, he encountered the teen in bed with Lloyd, and they had their pants down.
“I came home. I was drinking. She’s in bed. He’s on the couch. Oh great, he’s still (expletive) here,” Cater allegedly told police about his reaction on finding Lewis in the apartment Wednesday morning.
Lewis, of Wilkes-Barre, had multiple Facebook pages. On one, he described himself as a (expletive)-boi “dating a bunch of girls.”
Township Police Chief Al Walker characterized the stabbing as a domestic incident.
Cater was charged with an open count of criminal homicide, remaining silent as he was led into and out of District Judge Joseph Halesey’s courtroom for arraignment. He was then jailed at the county correctional facility without bail.
An autopsy on Lewis is scheduled for Thursday.
Incident described
According to a criminal complaint:
Investigators interviewed Cater, who claimed he arrived home after drinking at a friend’s apartment in the Marion Terrace complex. He banged on the door to be let inside because he forgot his keys and cell phone.
Lloyd opened the door, and Cater spotted Lewis sleeping on a couch.
He asked Lloyd why Lewis was in their apartment, then walked into the kitchen and grabbed a knife. Cater approached Lewis, pulling a blanket off him before stabbing the man as he slept. Cater told investigators he believed he stabbed Lewis three times on the couch.
Lewis jumped up and struggled with Cater before running out of the apartment.
Cater chased Lewis, but stopped near the front door. Cater claimed he walked down the sidewalk and found Lewis lying on the ground near a Dumpster.
Cater told investigators he heard Lewis breathing heavily and walked back to his apartment, noticing police approaching him as he did so.
“He got off the couch and tried to fight me. I don’t know how the (expletive) happened. I really don’t know how this (expletive) happened,” Cater told police.
Police said Cater told them he has been with Lloyd for nearly 10 years. He said Lloyd and Lewis became friends in August or September of last year.
Lloyd told investigators Cater banged on the door to be let inside. When she opened the door, Lloyd said Cater began arguing with her because Lewis was inside the apartment. Lloyd said she called 911 while Cater grabbed a knife in the kitchen.
Neighbor’s account
Lorinda Bryant, a neighbor in the apartment complex off King’s Road, heard and saw the commotion, including Cater banging on the door.
Bryant said Lewis “tussled” with Cater and ran out of the apartment while being chased. She said Lewis collapsed near the Dumpster where his body was found.
She described Cater as a non-violent person who she often saw around the complex with the three young daughters he has with Lloyd.
“The guy was always out playing with his kids, he’s not a violent dude,” Bryant said.
