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WILKES-BARRE — The man found dead in his South Wilkes-Barre residence early Friday died from multiple stab wounds and the death has been ruled a homicide, according to Luzerne County Deputy Coroner Dan Hughes.
City police on Saturday also confirmed after they recovered evidence from victim Fred Boote’s residence they visited a “secondary scene” at 95 Maffett St. in Wilkes-Barre.
The same detectives seen at Boote’s home at 14 Donald Court on Friday morning were seen at the nearby Maffett Street building by late afternoon.
Boote’s autopsy was performed Saturday by forensic pathologist Dr. Gary Ross.
Police say “blunt trauma” also contributed to the death.
The 58-year-old was found with an apparent stab wound to the back after an officer recovered a Golden Retriever at the Turkey Hill store on Carey Avenue, less than a mile from Boote’s residence.
A collar on the dog listed Boote’s address.
When the officer arrived at Boote’s home with the dog just before 4 a.m., he noticed the front door was open several inches and the lights turned on. After no response, additional officers arrived to assist in searching the home.
It was then that they discovered blood spatter on floors and Boote’s body in a second-floor bedroom along with a large knife covered with blood and a gasoline container. The spout from the gas container was under the body, an affidavit stated.
Police later obtained a search warrant for an iPhone found on Willow Street that belonged to Boote.
No further information was available from authorities late Saturday.