SHAVERTOWN, PA — A decade-old mystery reached a dramatic turning point Tuesday morning as State Police arrested a 69-year-old man for the brutal 2011 stabbing death of his cousin. Investigators filed an open count of criminal homicide against Frederick Balester, alleging that the killing was motivated by a high-stakes struggle over a family fortune.
The victim, Jonathan Balester, was found dead in his home near Shavertown in 2011, having sustained multiple stab wounds to his back. For years, the case remained unsolved, but authorities now claim that Frederick Balester orchestrated the killing to facilitate the multi-million dollar sale of a shared family business.
According to court records, the investigation into the business dealings and the timeline of the sale provided the breakthrough needed to bring charges 15 years after the crime. Following his arrest this morning, Frederick Balester was formally arraigned on the homicide charge. Due to the nature of the crime, bail was denied, and he is currently lodged at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.