Berks County District Attorney John Adams, Central Berks Regional Police Chief Raymond Serafin, and Chief County Detective Michael Gombar held a press conference Thursday morning at the Lower Alsace Township building to announce new details, and charges filed against two men in connection with the murder of Anthony DelCollo.
On October 25, 2021, at approximately 2:38pm, officers from the Central Berks Regional Police Department responded to the area of Rotary Park in Lower Alsace relative to the discovery of a deceased male.
The first Police Officer to arrive at the scene located an unresponsive caucasian male, lying on his side, with visible wounds and physical evidence consistent with being assaulted, stabbed, and robbed.
At approximately 3:24pm, Berks County Deputy Coroner Melissa Spuhler determined the male was deceased. The victim was identified as Anthony DelCollo, twenty-eight years old and a resident of Exeter Township.
The Central Berks Regional Police Department along with Berks County District Attorney Detectives, conducted a joint investigation.
During the investigation, Detectives found that a blue 2014 Ford F-150 pickup truck, co-registered to the victim, was located at the 100 block of Hancock Blvd. in Reading. The truck was processed by the District Attorney’s Forensic Services Unit.
The examination yielded the presence of blood on the driver’s seat and floor, near and on the gas and brake pedals. The physical and biological evidence collected has been delivered to the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Lab in Bethlehem for further analysis.
On October 28, 2021, Forensic Pathologist Dr. Supriya Kuruvilla, performed an autopsy on the victim, identified as Anthony DelCollo. Based on the results of the physical examination and autopsy, Dr. Kuruvilla determined that the Cause of Death was due to multiple sharp force injuries described as stabs and chops and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
On November 4, 2021, the lead detectives (Affiants) interviewed a witness, who was present when Anthony DelCollo was killed on October 25, 2021.
Investigators say the witness identified William Smoot Jr., aka “Black”, and Joseph Lachina, as the other two people who were present and responsible for killing Anthony DelCollo.
On November 6, 2021, William Smoot Jr. and Joseph Lachina were apprehended and committed to Berks County Jail. Both had outstanding probation violations which were issued by the Berks County Adult Probation Office.
On December 1, 2021, the Berks County District Attorney’s Office approved the filing of criminal charges against the defendants, William Smoot Jr., and Joseph Lachina, which include Murder of the First Degree, Murder of the Second Degree, Murder of the Third Degree, etc.
Both defendants remain incarcerated in Berks County Jail without bail.
Berks County District Attorney John Adams says the homicide investigation remains active and that Detectives will continue to exhaust all investigative leads to identify every person who was involved in or played a role in this tragic murder and bring them to justice.
Anyone with information is asked to submit an anonymous tip to Crime Alert Berks County. Tips may be submitted by either calling (877) 373-9913, downloading the ALERTBERKS app on your mobile device, or via text message using your mobile phone and typing ALERTBERKS along with your tip to 847411. Or contact Central Berks Regional Police Detective Deron Manndel, telephone 610-779-1100 or Berks County Detective Thomas Weaver, telephone 610-478-7171.
