Berks County District Attorney John Adams revealed new details Monday, October 26, in the investigation into the disappearance and presumed death of Michael Petrino Jr., outlining what prosecutors believe was a coordinated kidnapping carried out in retaliation for a drug robbery.
During a press conference, Adams described how eight individuals allegedly participated in three stages of the kidnapping, beginning in Reading and ending at Birdsboro Preserve, where Petrino was last seen alive on March 25, 2026.
Although Petrino’s remains have not been recovered, Adams said investigators have gathered sufficient evidence to conclude that he was killed after being taken away by Luke Foxx, 21, and Josiah Vaux, 23, who were arrested October 22 and charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping and related offenses.
“This investigation is unusual in the fact that we have not discovered a body,” Adams said. However, he explained that investigators believe Petrino is deceased based on the circumstances of his disappearance and the extensive evidence collected over seven months.
“We are certain that he is deceased,” Adams said.
According to affidavits of probable cause filed October 21, investigators believe the kidnapping stemmed from an alleged robbery involving approximately two pounds of marijuana, 100 THC cartridges and 15 bottles of promethazine.
A witness told investigators that Petrino admitted to stealing the substances from Foxx sometime in March. According to the court documents, the drugs were stored at Foxx’s residence but had been supplied to him by Vaux.
Following the alleged robbery, Vaux created a group chat that included Petrino and several other individuals. Investigators said Vaux initiated a FaceTime call to confront the group about the missing drugs, but Petrino was the only participant who did not answer.
After the others denied involvement and identified Petrino as the person responsible, Vaux allegedly offered two pounds of marijuana, 100 THC cartridges and between $3,000 and $4,000 in exchange for delivering Petrino to him.
Adams confirmed that a bounty had been placed on Petrino and that drugs were eventually provided as payment for his capture.
Investigators describe three stages of kidnapping
Adams explained that the investigation identified three groups of individuals involved in Petrino’s abduction.
The first consisted of three juveniles, who were allegedly responsible for bringing Petrino to an alley near North Second and Oley streets in Reading. All three were subsequently charged as adults.
The second group included Gerson Caicedo, Khalil Nein and Jazmeire Brockington, who investigators allege took custody of Petrino in Reading and transported him to another location.
The third group consisted of Foxx and Vaux, who allegedly received Petrino at Birdsboro Preserve and drove away with him.
According to the affidavits, Petrino was traveling in a rented Jeep Compass with the three juveniles during the early morning hours of March 25.
Surveillance footage showed the Jeep arriving in the 600 block of North Second Street at approximately 3:30 a.m., eventually stopping in an alley where a gold Chevrolet Cobalt registered to Caicedo arrived moments later.
A witness told investigators that Petrino was sleeping in the front passenger seat of the Jeep when the witness opened the door and began striking him.
According to the affidavit, the witness and Nein repeatedly assaulted Petrino before forcing him into the back seat of Caicedo’s Chevrolet Cobalt.
Investigators said the group initially drove Petrino to Vaux’s residence in Mohnton, but Vaux was not home.
The group then drove around the Shillington area, eventually stopping near a park while awaiting further instructions.
Court documents indicate that Caicedo attempted to contact Vaux through FaceTime 36 times between approximately 4:33 and 6:35 a.m., without receiving an answer.
The affidavits also describe Ring camera footage from Vaux’s residence showing Caicedo outside the home using his cellphone and later returning to the Chevrolet Cobalt.
Investigators eventually identified several answered FaceTime calls between Caicedo and Vaux, including a call at 7:07 a.m. that lasted more than five minutes.
During one of those conversations, Vaux allegedly instructed the group to travel to a secluded area in Birdsboro.
Armed confrontation at Birdsboro Preserve
According to investigators, the group transported Petrino to the 2000 block of Hay Creek Road, which runs through Birdsboro Preserve near the former quarry.
After waiting approximately 30 to 60 minutes, the group decided to leave. As they were departing, Vaux allegedly arrived in a dark-colored Hyundai Santa Fe with Foxx seated in the front passenger seat.
The witness told investigators that Vaux directed them toward the end of Hay Creek Road, where the roadway becomes a trail.
When the vehicles stopped, Vaux allegedly exited the Hyundai carrying a shotgun, while Foxx remained in the passenger seat holding a handgun that he pointed toward the occupants of the Chevrolet Cobalt.
According to the affidavit, Vaux instructed the witness to bind Petrino’s hands and legs with duct tape. When the witness refused, Vaux allegedly placed his shotgun alongside the vehicle and bound Petrino himself, including covering his mouth with duct tape.
With his feet bound, Petrino was unable to walk and had to hop toward the Hyundai as Vaux allegedly used the shotgun to direct him toward the vehicle.
Petrino was then ordered to lie down in the rear seat of the Hyundai. Investigators said he complied, positioning his head near the rear passenger seat.
Vaux entered the driver’s seat and drove away with Foxx, who allegedly continued pointing his handgun toward the others throughout the encounter.
A witness told police that Caicedo and the others attempted to follow the Hyundai for approximately five to ten minutes but lost sight of it because Vaux was traveling at a high rate of speed.
Petrino has not been seen or heard from since.
Adams said investigators developed witnesses who provided accounts of the final encounter at Birdsboro Preserve, in addition to cellphone records, surveillance video and license plate reader information that corroborated portions of the investigation.
Court documents indicate that investigators recovered data from Vaux’s Hyundai showing that the address of 2000 Hay Creek Road had been entered into the vehicle’s GPS system at 9:20 a.m. on March 25.
License plate readers also documented movements of the Hyundai and Caicedo’s Chevrolet Cobalt in the area later that morning.
Witness describes receiving payment after disappearance
The affidavits provide additional information about what allegedly occurred after Petrino disappeared.
A witness told investigators that the promised payment was not provided during the initial exchange at Birdsboro Preserve.
However, sometime between April 5 and April 10, Vaux allegedly contacted the witness through FaceTime and instructed him to collect marijuana and THC cartridges from the back porch of Foxx’s residence on Kutztown Road.
According to the affidavit, the witness later retrieved a box containing approximately two to three pounds of marijuana and 100 cartridges.
The witness also recalled Vaux making statements about Petrino’s disappearance.
“Don’t worry about what’s going on-this has nothing to do with you, the problem’s taken care of,” Vaux allegedly told the witness, according to the court documents.
The affidavit also attributes another statement to Vaux: “I can still smell him.”
Investigators additionally recovered records of communications between Petrino and the two defendants in the days leading up to his disappearance.
According to the affidavits, Vaux and Petrino exchanged nearly 150 text messages between March 17 and March 21. Investigators described the communications as extremely contentious.
Police also identified 126 incoming and outgoing telephone calls and 129 text messages between Petrino and Foxx, with their last recorded exchange occurring March 16.
Prosecutors explain murder charges without recovering remains
A significant portion of Monday’s press conference focused on why authorities believe Petrino is deceased despite not locating his body.
Adams said investigators obtained dozens of search warrants and court orders to examine cellphone records, social media accounts, financial activity, surveillance footage and other evidence.
According to court documents, Petrino regularly communicated with family and friends before his disappearance. However, investigators found no verified contact with anyone after March 25.
His mother told police that Petrino always contacted her on her birthday, March 28, but failed to do so this year.
Investigators also learned that Petrino had been receiving assistance from the nonprofit organization PathStone and had arranged a meeting with a staffing agency for March 26. He never attended that meeting.
Searches of his Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and email accounts showed no posts, messages, logins or other activity following his disappearance.
Financial records similarly showed no transactions, withdrawals or purchases after March 25.
Police located Petrino’s rented Jeep abandoned in the 1200 block of Muhlenberg Street on March 26. His wallet, containing debit and credit cards, remained inside the vehicle, although his driver’s license was missing.
Investigators also found no evidence that Petrino had established a new residence, obtained employment or traveled outside the country using his passport.
Two extensive search operations were conducted with assistance from Middle Creek Search and Rescue and other agencies, including the FBI. Those efforts involved ground searches, K-9 teams, water searches, ATVs and mounted patrols.
The searches focused on areas identified through cellphone records, including the Birdsboro Preserve area, but failed to locate Petrino or his remains.
Adams explained that the combination of evidence, particularly the circumstances surrounding Petrino’s last known encounter, supports the murder charges.
He also addressed why Foxx and Vaux were charged with second-degree murder rather than first-degree murder.
Adams said prosecutors believe they have sufficient evidence to establish that Petrino was killed during the commission of a kidnapping, which qualifies as a predicate felony for second-degree murder under Pennsylvania law.
He added that the charges could potentially be amended as the investigation continues. Second-degree murder carries a potential life sentence.
Authorities continue search for Petrino’s remains
Adams praised the Reading Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division for its work on the case, specifically recognizing investigators Katelyn Super, Joshua Sheller and Trevor Atkins, along with Lieutenant Dreisbach, who led the investigation.
He also acknowledged Assistant District Attorney Charles Prutzman for his work on the case.
Adams said the five adult defendants face kidnapping and second-degree murder charges, while the three juveniles have been charged with kidnapping. He confirmed that all eight individuals are currently incarcerated in Berks County Jail or other correctional facilities.
The investigation remains active, and authorities have not ruled out additional arrests if evidence identifies others involved in the alleged kidnapping and homicide.
Despite the arrests, Adams emphasized that locating Petrino’s remains remains a priority for investigators and his family.
“We need the public’s help to find Michael Petrino Jr.’s remains. I want to give this family some closure,” Adams said.
Anyone with information about the case or Petrino’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Reading Police Department at 610-655-6116 or Crime Alert Berks County at 1-877-373-9913.
All individuals charged in connection with the case are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
