Thomas Stanko, 55, faces criminal homicide charges in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, for the presumed 2018 killing of his girlfriend Cassandra Gross, 51, despite her body never being found; his trial began this week relying on circumstantial evidence.
Disappearance Details
Gross was last seen April 7, 2018, in Greensburg after lunch plans; her burned red Mitsubishi SUV was discovered the next day near Unity Township train tracks, with her blind diabetic dog found muddy nearby. Cell records place her phone last near Stanko’s mother’s home around 9 p.m.; Stanko bought Walmart items earlier and made four calls to her that afternoon.
Prosecution Evidence
Witnesses described Stanko’s controlling behavior, including threatening voicemails (“You’re a cheater… I’m done”), doorstep stalking, and warnings to neighbors like “I run this area.” Neighbor Harry Berkey saw Gross’s SUV at Stanko’s mother’s house April 8, followed by Stanko towing a backhoe; a note and ring from Stanko urged marriage. Gross’s mother testified to her daughter’s fearful calls; her son detailed final texts for dinner ingredients.
Defense and Status
Stanko pleads not guilty, arguing no body, weapon, or motive proves murder; he’s served federal gun time since 2018 arrest, charged in 2022 after probes of burn sites on family properties (mother deceased). Trial, expected two weeks, allows limited evidence of Gross’s 2019 legal death declaration.
