Authorities charge three in 2007 Pike shooting death

MILFORD — A Harrisburg man and a Northampton County couple were charged earlier this week in the killing of a man, whose body was found in Porter Township last year. Pike County Assistant District Attorney Bruce DeSarro said Jesus Rosario-Torres and Joseph and Dawn Marie Atwell of Forks Township in Northampton County have each been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of 29-year-old Norman Domenech. Domenech’s body was found partially hidden under some concrete slabs in June of last year. DeSarro said a year-long state police investigation led to Torres arrest Monday. Dawn Marie Atwell, who was already confined in the Pike County Jail on other charges, was preliminarily arraigned Tuesday. Joseph Atwell, who is serving time elsewhere, was transported to Pike County for preliminary arraignment Wednesday. DeSarro would not comment on evidence leading to the arrests, but the Easton Times Express reported that Joseph Atwell met Domenech in prison and invited him to live at his home following their release. The Atwells came to believe that Domenech stole from him during that period, which led them and Torres, a Harrisburg resident, to lure Domenech into the woods in Porter Township where they allegedly shot him to death. The three are tentatively scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing in the Pike County Court of Common Pleas on Aug. 5. DeSarro said Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin will decide whether to press for a death-penalty prosecution before the trio is formally arraigned in county court.