EDWARDSVILLE -- Update: State police in Luzerne County have a suspect in custody, following the stabbing death of a homeless man.
Troopers arrested Daniel Holtslander, 38, of Wilkes-Barre Thursday, following an investigation. Holtslander is charged with criminal homicide.
Original Story: The death of a homeless man whose body was found over the weekend in Luzerne County has been ruled a homicide.
The partly decomposed body was found Saturday in the woods behind a shopping plaza in Edwardsville.
State police identified the man as Kurt Swan, 49.
Investigators say Swan was stabbed multiple times.
Shoppers at the Kmart Plaza in Edwardsville were stunned to learn that the body of a homicide victim was found in the woods right behind the store.
“I think it's terrible, so sad you know,” said Rose Delaney.
Workers in this busy shopping district say they knew Swan well. Nicole Skipalis works at the Petco near where Swan's body was found.
“He was a pretty frequent fixture around here. I'd see him three, four times a week when I came into work,” Skipalis said.
Homeless or not, she says Swan was popular with other employees and shoppers when he would stop by Petco with his puppy, a pit bull named Peanut.
“At first, he was pretty much telling us the story about being homeless and people would give him stuff for the dog, food, treats, toys,” Skipalis added.
State police in Luzerne County are looking for his killer and ask anyone with information to call them at 570-697-2000.
