Thomas G. Stanko will speak publicly for the first time today regarding the disappearance of Cassandra Gross when he takes the stand in his own defense on day seven of his trial.

Stanko, 55, is charged with criminal homicide and reckless burning in connection with the disappearance of Gross, 51. While Gross was legally declared dead in 2019, her remains have never been found. Prosecutors contend Stanko killed Gross following a meeting on April 7, 2018, then burned her body and discarded her remains.

The prosecution rested its case in Westmoreland County court this morning after testimony from Cathy Vokes, who said she and Stanko got together in 2014. They knew each other for years as Stanko was previously married to Vokes’ sister.

Vokes detailed a turbulent and violent relationship in which she said she was assaulted and stalked by Stanko. She described one incident in which she said Stanko choked her after she threatened to leave him.

They married in 2015 and the violence continued, Vokes testified. She told jurors about an incident when she discovered a hidden phone bill in a shed that showed repeated calls to Stanko’s ex-girlfriend. Stanko threatened to flatten her tires as she attempted to leave.

Vokes said Stanko pulled her out of the car parked outside of his mother’s home, chased her into the Union Cemetery and jumped on her and assaulted her.

“He told me he would kill me or my family. He told me he could kill me and no one will ever find me,” Vokes testified.

Vokes then described numerous incidents in which Stanko would stalk and harass her at her parents’ home. Neighbors of Gross described similar behavior earlier in the trial.

The prosecution concluded its case before Judge Michael Stewart after presenting 32 witnesses and 357 exhibits over the past week.