Trial Begins For Ambler Man Charged With Killing Mother, Boyfriend

AMBLER, PA -- The trial for an Ambler man charged with two counts of first degree murder in the deaths of his mother and her boyfriend has begun.

Joshua Trunk, now 20, allegedly shot and killed his mother and her boyfriend while they lay in bed, according to the DA's office.

Trunk, who was 19 at the time, first came under police suspicion when they realized that the apartment in which the crime took place showed no signs of a break-in, the DA said.

The incident occurred sometime before 11:15 p.m. on July 31 on the second floor of the Forest Garden Apartments in Ambler, according to officials.

The bodies of Janice Trunk, 54, and Kevin Milton Smith, 44, were found lying in bed, dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and torso, the DA said.

"When the officers entered the apartment, there were no signs of forced entry, no evidence of the ransacking common to burglaries and no indication of a struggle," said Steele. "Following a thorough investigation by the Ambler Police and the Montgomery County Detectives, the evidence pointed to the defendant and a family violence situation."

Joshua Trunk was arrested on the night of the murders, but authorities waited to announce charges until Wednesday.

Trunk has also been charged with two counts of third degree murder and weapons possession charges.

A motive for the crimes was not immediately apparent.

Image courtesy Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.