Stephen Lepore disappearance: Cold case gets hot again as remains found
During a press conference on Friday, Monroe County First Assistant District Attorney Michael Mancuso provided more details on the case of missing Tobyhanna man Stephen Lepore and the recent search of a property in Wayne County in connection to it.
The District Attorney’s Office also formally introduced two people, Brian “Sonny” Hewson, 49, and Kip Morgan, 59, into the case, as well as revealed pictures of the gun believed to be the murder weapon, and pictures of the excavation team investigating the Dreher Township property were Lepore’s remains were found.
“Mr. Lepore had been reported missing, which was very uncharacteristic for him to not check in with family, friends, neighbors,” said Pocono Mountain Regional Police Chief Chris Wagner. “From the beginning, we suspected foul play because it was so out-of-character for him."
According to a search warrant affidavit, Morgan told investigators in May 2015, under a grant of immunity, that he heard Hewson and Lepore arguing, with Hewson saying that Lepore owed him money, and Lepore telling Hewson “he knew more about him than he thought.” Morgan said he heard a gunshot, followed by the sound of something hitting the ground, and saw Lepore face down on the ground outside, bleeding from the back of the head.
Morgan assisted Hewson in cleaning up the scene of the crime, including placing Lepore’s body into a barrel and abandoning Lepore’s van in Stroudsburg, the affidavit says. A .38 caliber Taurus revolver, allegedly used to kill Lepore, was later found in a backpack in New York at a residency of Morgan's siblings.
According to the affidavit, Hewson may have owed Lepore $15,000, and Lepore started keeping tabs on illegal activities done by Hewson and his associates.
Morgan would later confess, in September 2015, to shooting Lepore at Hewson's request, according to the affidavit, also under a grant of immunity.
Last month, Hewson was arrested in Florida and charged as fugitive from justice, as he missed court appearances related to a burglary charge in Monroe County, along with other unrelated charges.
On Oct. 16, Hewson informed Monroe County DA's Office Detective Craig VanLouvender that he could find the remains of Lepore and next to a shed in the backyard of his mother’s residence in Newfoundland, according to the affidavit. A human remains detection canine alerted to the spot on the same day, and the remains were identified as Lepore later that week.
Hewson “was the one who provided information to us that was able to led us to the recovery of the remains,” said VanLouvender during the press conference. “This is part of an ongoing investigation with… a lot of work left to be done, but it was information that he provided that led us to that location.”
"When a cold case gets hot, it's a very exciting thing, at least for me," said First Assistant DA Michael Mancuso during the press conference. "And when that happens now, you'll see an intense collaboration in getting the case ready for prosecution, so I look forward to that."
Morgan is not currently in custody. His whereabouts are known to the DA's office and he is not believed to be a threat to the public. Hewson is in custody in Lee County, Florida.
The Pocono Record has reached out to Christopher P. Boran, the Florida lawyer listed as representing Hewson. There was no response as of Monday morning.
No charges have been filed yet in connection to the case.
Max Auguliaro is the public safety and government watchdog reporter at the Pocono Record. Reach him at MAugugliaro@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: 'A lot of work left' after remains of missing Poconos man found
