Kasick Waives Preliminary Hearing

Brandin Lee Kasick, the man who is accused of killing Alburtis residents Althea Walbert, 82, and her daughter Jeannette, 59, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Lehigh County Court.

Kasick spoke only with his lawyer, Public Defender Dennis Charles, at the hearing, and, in blue prison issue scrubs, shackled hand and foot, he was led in and out by four deputy sheriffs.

The Walberts were found dead in their 122 Cobblestone Court home on the morning of March 11. Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said their deaths had been caused by "sharp force trauma to the neck."

Kasick was arrested Sept. 25 in Sarasota, Fla., and charged with two counts of criminal homicide, burglary and theft by unlawful taking or disposition.

Martin said he would seek the death penalty in the case.

Kasick, who had no known address at the time of his arrest, has had Lehigh Valley addresses in Orefield, Breinigsville and Allentown.

He he met the Walberts when he cleaned their carpets multiple times between 2005 and 2009 as an employee of Chem-Dry.

His arraignment has been scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Dec. 19