Afternoon testimony has begun in the trial of Thomas G. Stanko of Unity, who is charged in the death of Cassandra Gross.
Gross, of Unity, disappeared in April 2018, and despite years of intensive searches, her remains have never been found.
Stanko, 55, was charged in 2022 with first-degree homicide and reckless burning.
During the afternoon testimony, retired state police Capt. Joseph Ruggery described finding Gross’ burned out SUV as he rode a dirt bike on trails near Twin Lakes Park on April 8, 2018.
“It was completely burned. There was no chance it was accidental,” he said. “I assumed it was arson and stolen.”
Next up is retired state police Capt. Joseph Ruggery. He describes finding Gross’ burned out SUV as he rode a dirt bike on trails near Twin Lakes Park on April 8. “It was completely burned. There was no chance it was accidental. I assumed it was arson and stolen,” he testified.
— Rich Cholodofsky (@RichCholodofsky) February 5, 2026
Earlier in the afternoon, a neighbor of Stanko’s, Harry Berkey, testified he saw a series of vehicles drive into and out of Stanko’s property on April 8, 2018, the day after Gross reportedly disappeared, including Gross’ SUV, Stanko’s white pickup truck and his mother’s sedan.
Berkey said Gross’ SUV arrived first around 7:30 a.m. Berkey testified he saw Stanko’s truck arrive pulling a backhoe and later saw Gross’ SUV leave at 11:30 a.m. He said the SUV was driving uncharacteristically slow and at a speed that is similar to the way Stanko’s mother drove.
Berkey said later that afternoon he saw Stanko return home in his mother’s car with her behind the wheel. He testified he never saw Gross.
Later that afternoon Berkey says he saw Stanko return home in his mother’s car with her behind the wheel. He testified he never saw Gross.
— Rich Cholodofsky (@RichCholodofsky) February 5, 2026
Prosecutors played recovered voice mails from Stanko, including an angry call to Gross in October 2017 after an apparent breakup and another in January 2018. The January call occurred after Stanko was contacted by the state police in response to a stalking complaint made by a neighbor.
Prosecutors also introduced a series of cellphone records they say detailed text message conversations between Gross and Stanko on April 7, 2018, that included a grocery list of items for him to pick up at the Unity Walmart. She has not been heard from since that day.
Retired state police trooper James McKenzie said Gross’ last known cellphone location was 1.6 miles from Stanko’s home.
Retired state police Detective James McKenzie said Gross’ cell phone last pinged on April 7 at 4:17 p.m., just 1.6 miles from Stanko home.
— Rich Cholodofsky (@RichCholodofsky) February 5, 2026
Among the first to testify Thursday were Gross’ son and a friend, who recalled their last conversations on April 7, 2018. Her son, Brandon Diebold, said Gross visited North Carolina the week before she disappeared and she called him as she left from a lunch date with a friend on April 7.
Diebold told jurors he typically spoke with his mother at least three-to-four times a week. He said he has not heard from her since that April 7 phone call.
Mary Ann Dicks, a friend of Gross since their high school days, testified she had lunch with Gross at the Parkwood Inn in Southwest Greensburg on April 7 when she asked about Stanko.
“She said she thought she had everything under control and would deal with it on her own,” Dicks said.
High school friend Mary Ann Dicks testified she had lunch with Gross at the Parkwood Inn on April 7 when she asked about Stanko. “She said she thought she had everything under control and would deal with it on her own,” Dicks said.
— Rich Cholodofsky (@RichCholodofsky) February 5, 2026