Grandfather talks of 'rock star' response by little girl after her mom was killed in their Northampton home
Samantha Rementer lost the father of her two children last year. Last week, she lost her own life at the hands of someone police described as a "friend" inside the home she shared with her young daughters.
Authorities are calling the death of the 31-year-old mother of two a homicide, and the man that they've identified as a suspect remained hospitalized Monday after an apparent suicide attempt. The girls, who were home at the time, were uninjured and are safe with family.
Rementer died by strangulation according to Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck, who also confirmed on Wednesday the manner of death as a homicide.
On Tuesday, William Rementer confirmed the children, who are ages 2 and 5, are his daughter Samantha's. The older girl, Lilly, who turned 5 on Saturday, opened the door for police responding to the call, he said.
"The police detectives call her a rock star," Rementer said, adding "ask any teacher or anyone who knows Lilly and they will tell you she is the strongest person they know."
Northampton police and the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, which are investigating the death have released little information about the case.
In a press release Monday, police said that Rementer died June 8 at the condominium where she lived in the 12000 block of Clark Court in the Tapestry development after what police described as an assault committed by a man described as a "friend," according to Chief Steven LeCompte.
Police have not released the identity of the suspect, who remains hospitalized with an injury consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the release said.
Police confirmed that children were found in the home at the time of the murder, and they are being cared for by relatives. Authorities did not release additional details, other than the investigation is ongoing and there is no threat to the community.
William Rementer said it was a year ago in February when his granddaughters lost their father at age 33 to a heart attack, and the girls and Samantha were forced to move out of their large single family home in Holland and into a condominium nearby.
He praised Northampton police and social service agencies for providing support to his family, who are caring for the girls. The family has also started a Go-Fund-Me page for the girls that has raised $6,500.
"Your story should be about the system, starting with the police and all the agencies in Bucks County that have gone above and beyond," William Rementer said. "Samantha was a terrific daughter and mother. Now all the attention and concern is going to (the girls). There are many heroes in this tragic story; Lilly above all."
Anyone with additional information related to this homicide can email the investigators at: crimetips@nhtwp.org or call the Northampton Township Police at 215-322-6111 and ask for the on-duty detective.
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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Police: Northampton woman killed in townhome, 'friend' a suspect
