Arson Arrests, Gruesome Killings Top Eastern PA News

Check out some of Patch's biggest stories from the past week in eastern Pennsylvania:

Three men—including a volunteer firefighter—were charged with arson and related offenses in connection with an arson that took place at the Croydon Mansion in Bensalem in February, according to police.

Two Berks County brothers are charged with kidnapping, torturing and killing 26-year-old Jennifer Velez-Negron, whose burned body was found dumped in Salisbury Township two days after Christmas. Velez-Negron's torture was recorded on a cellphone, according to court records. The brothers also are charged with killing an Easton grad and another man in Reading on Dec 4. 

The former finance director for Lower Southampton, Robert S. Butts, 53, surrendered to police Friday to face charges that he stole $24,000 from the Middletown Athletic Association.

Death Penalty Sought in Killing

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan announced Thursday that the state will seek the death penalty against Shakeem Carter, the Norristown man accused of the brutal killing of 17-year-old Kevin Allen on Feb. 12. Carter is accused of killing Allen in the course of robbing him of $350 given to him by his father to buy clothing. 

'Operation Walled-In' leads to the arrest of six people, including two from Pottstown and two from the Norristown area.

Students at St. Katharine of Siena saw a man taking pictures of children, another wearing a ski mask.

Assault of Infant Gets Hatboro Man 3 Years Probation

Jarrett Tourish, 23, of Hatboro, was sentenced to three years probation for physically abusing his 5-month-old son in November 2011.

Springfield Man First in Line for Doughnuts

Timothy Folkomer is looking forward to a dozen free Krispy Kreme Doughnuts every week for the next year. All he has to do to win them is stay first in line at the new Kirspy Kreme Doughnut shop at the Manoa Shopping Center on West Chester Pike in Havertown.

2 World Figures Visit Northampton County in Same Week

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and world famous primate expert Jane Goodall both visited Lafayette College in Easton, Northampton County, the week of April 8. Blair paid tribute to Margaret Thatcher, whose death was announced hours before his talk. Jane Goodall addressed what her time studying chimpanzees taught her about humans. "We've been jolly arrogant," she said. "We're part of the animal kingdom. We're not separate from it."