Alburtis Killings an Isolated Case, Law Officials Say

Alburtis Police Chief Robert Palmer and Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said this evening that based on the evidence collected so far, the deaths of Althea Walbert and her daughter, Jeannette, should be considered an isolated incident.

"At this point in the case, the police officers and Pennsylvania State Police at Fogelsville who are leading the investigation have found nothing  to indicate that residents at large in the borough are in danger," they said in a joint release.

The Walberts were found by a family friend around 9am Friday in their 122 Cobblestone Court home.

Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim ruled the deaths homicides later that day. Manners of death have not been released, though autopsies were scheduled for 8am Saturday.

Officials are using numerous resources to apprehend the suspect or suspects, Palmer continued.

"We are asking the public to be patient and to try to understand that we cannot reveal any details that would compromise the integrity of the investigation or hinder it in any way," he said.

"The public can be assured that we are doing all we can to determine what happened and who is responsible," he added.

Palmer continued by saying "the public is encouraged to take any steps they would usually take to protect themselves and their families including locking their doors and cars and remaining vigilant."

Just before Palmer released his and Martin's statement, Harold Frey, owner of Frey's Store, said the people he has spoken with over the past few days are afraid.

"We're locking our doors, and we didn't do that before," Frey said, adding that he believed the doors at the Walbert home were never locked.

Palmer said he believes these may be the first homicides reported in the history of the usually quiet borough of 2,300.

Alburtis was founded in the mid-19th century and incorporated as a borough in 1913, according to the town's website.

Palmer said anyone with information should call either the Alburtis Police Department at 610-966-4778 or the state police at Fogelsville at 610-395-1438.