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KINGSTON TWP. — Three days after a homicide was committed in her next door neighbor’s house, Elisabeth Ford stood at her front door and talked about the incident.

Ford and her husband, Matthew, moved into their new residence at 5 Orchard St., Kingston Township, July 28, after having lived in South Wilkes-Barre for two years.

“We wanted some quiet,” Ford said as she recalled the events of the weekend. “If this had happened in Wilkes-Barre, we wouldn’t have been surprised at all. But out here? We’re very surprised.”

Investigators say Zachary Hockenberry, 14, of 145 S. Lehigh St. — located adjacent to the Ford home — entered 7 Orchard St. and stabbed three people Sunday.

Hockenberry is charged with homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and burglary in connection with the death of David Sinoracki, 45, and assaults on Sinoracki’s wife, Bobbi Jo, 36, and the couple’s 17-year-old daughter. Bobbi Jo Sinoracki remains hospitalized at Geisinger Wyoming Valley. Her daughter was treated and released.

A preliminary hearing for Hockenberry, originally scheduled for Sept. 22, has been continued at the request of his attorney, Frank Nocito. According to the office of Magisterial District Justice James Tupper and Kingston Township Police Chief Michael Moravec, the hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 7 at Tupper’s office, 11 Carverton Road, Trucksville.

Hockenberry is jailed in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility without bail.

Neighbors recall day’s events

“It’s all very sad,” Ford, 31, said. “I wish I had gone over and had more interaction with (the Sinorackis). They seem to be very nice people.”

While Ford was at the movies Sunday, her husband called 911 to report a disturbance in the Sinoracki home.

“My husband texted me first and then he called to tell me what had happened and he told me not to come home right away,” Ford said. “I got home about 4:30 p.m. and things had quieted down.”

Ford said Sunday’s triple stabbing was “an isolated event,” but she admitted she did have concerns.

“Yes, I was worried at first,” she said. “When something like this happens so close to home, you think that it could have easily happened here.”

Ford said her fears subsided when the suspect was taken into custody.

Matthew Ford, 32, was in the shower Sunday when he heard dogs barking. He looked out the window and, at first, things appeared to be normal. Shortly after, Ford said the barking got much louder and he heard a scream.

“I heard a woman scream,” he said. “It was a horrific scream. I became very concerned and I called 911.”

Ford said he looked out the window again and saw a young girl outside at the rear of the Sinoracki home. He said she was holding her head and appeared to be bleeding.

At that moment, Ford said another woman, a neighbor who had been in the Sinoracki house, came outside screaming that there had been a stabbing.

‘The woman was screaming for someone to call 911,” Ford said. “I could tell there was a terrible situation unfolding.”

Ford locked his doors and grabbed a knife for his own protection before making the call to 911.

“I wasn’t sure how many people were responsible or what was going on,” he said.

Ford said police arrived at the scene in under five minutes.

A hero’s death

Ford said the Sinorackis were the first ones to welcome him and his wife to the neighborhood. He said there were always a lot of children visiting the Sinoracki home and there were never any problems. He said David Sinoracki was very involved with his family’s activities.

“Dave (Sinoracki) is absolutely a hero in my book,” Ford said. “He did what we all hope we would do in that situation — he tried to save his family from this attacker. Dave is the real hero here and he should be remembered as such.”

Ford said a neighbor told him she was in the house and tried to help David Sinoracki by applying pressure to his stab wounds.

“She told me that the suspect was in the room at the time, but at the time she didn’t know he was the assailant,” Ford said.

“I’m thankful my family was not harmed,” he added. “This is a tragic situation. This poor family, they are the ones to have the concern for.”

Ford said he and his wife did not know the Hockenberry family at all.

“We’re just stunned by this whole situation,” he said. “Until we know why this all transpired, we will just go about living our lives.

“This shows that you’re never really safe anywhere,” Ford added. “Events like this aren’t contained to any certain area. But we are not afraid or fearful of living in our neighborhood.”

Motive still unknown

Moravec, the township police chief, said the motive for the stabbings is still not known. The investigation is continuing and more information will be released when it becomes available.

Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis took the same position, adding that because the investigation is still active, she can’t comment on the case.

Nocito requested the continuance to give him time to prepare his case.

“I can’t comment on what the motive might have been,” he said.

Go Fund Me account opened

Erin Cook, a friend of the Sinoracki family, has set up a Go Fund Me account for the family to help ease the financial burden. Cook and Bobbi Jo Sinoracki have been friends for 20 years and their children grew up together. Cook has been with the Sinoracki family constantly since Sunday.

“I talked to Bobbi Jo and her parents,” Cook said. “The family needs time to grieve and process the whole situation.”

Cook said the family has no idea what caused Hockenberry to enter the Sinoracki home and attack the family. She said Hockenberry had not been inside the Sinoracki residence before Sunday.

“We have no idea why this happened,” Cook said. “Yes, Dave is a hero. He died protecting his family. Right now, the family asks for prayers.”

Cook said David Sinoracki was always the first person to greet people at his door with a smile and a hug. She said he had made several improvements to the home as his family grew. Recently, Sinoracki had been installing a fireplace in the home.

“They are a great family,” Cook said. “Dave and Bobbi Jo have three beautiful, bright, caring children. They are a testament to Dave and Bobbi Jo’s parenting.”

David Sinoracki’s funeral will be held Friday.

A man identified as Lee Hockenberry, father of suspect Zachary Hockenberry, speaks to police outside of 7 Orchard St., where three people were stabbed.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_TTL091216Stabbing2-10.jpg.optimal.jpgA man identified as Lee Hockenberry, father of suspect Zachary Hockenberry, speaks to police outside of 7 Orchard St., where three people were stabbed. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Kingston Township Police Chief Michael Moravec talks about Sunday’s stabbings on Orchard Street.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_TTL091516Moravec1-3.jpg.optimal.jpgKingston Township Police Chief Michael Moravec talks about Sunday’s stabbings on Orchard Street. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Luzerne County District Attorney Stephanie Salavantis and Kingston Township Police Chief Michael Moravec hold a news conference Sunday evening following the fatal stabbing on Orchard Street.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_TTL091216Press-Conference-6.jpg.optimal.jpgLuzerne County District Attorney Stephanie Salavantis and Kingston Township Police Chief Michael Moravec hold a news conference Sunday evening following the fatal stabbing on Orchard Street. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Lee Hockenberry, right, father of stabbing suspect Zachery Hockenberry, restrained his son Sunday until police arrived.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_TTL091516Hockenberry-2.jpg.optimal.jpgLee Hockenberry, right, father of stabbing suspect Zachery Hockenberry, restrained his son Sunday until police arrived. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader
Hearing continued for 14-year-old homicide suspect

By Bill O’Boyle

[email protected]

HOW TO HELP

To help the Sinoracki family, visit the Sinoracki Family Fund page at www.gofundme.com/2rckfepg, where they can donate or share the information on Facebook.

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.