Chester County Coroner Makes Full Statement On Prisoner's Death

WEST CHESTER, PA — The Chester County Coroner’s Office said it has conducted an autopsy in the death of Dimitrios Moscharis, who was found dead at Chester County Prison as he faced charges including attempted homicide in a child abuse and torture case.

The Chester County Coroner’s Office today issued an official statement confirming the death of Moscharis, 34, in the Chester County Prison on June 18.

The death of Moscharis is under active investigation by the Coroner’s Office at this time, the statement said. Under Pennsylvania law, a County Coroner is required to “investigate the facts and circumstances” of any death in their county that occurs in prison or while in custody of the police, the Coroner's Office explained.

"The purpose of an investigation is to determine whether or not an autopsy or inquest should be conducted. An autopsy has been performed," the Coroner's Office said today.

The Coroner's Office said once all results and relevant information are available, the cause and manner of death will be determined by the Coroner.

"It usually takes at least six weeks after an autopsy, and possibly longer, before the final cause and manner of death can be determined," said Chester County Coroner Christina VandePol. "I want to emphasize that, as always, my goal is an accurate and truthful finding based on all the information available to us. No further comment will be made until our investigation is complete."

Moscharis, of Westtown, was charged with attempted homicide in the beating and torture of his girlfriend's 9-year-old daughter in November 2020. He was awaiting trial when he was found dead in prison.

Moscharis and the child victim's mother, Julianne Lewis, 31, were both charged in the case the District Attorney at the time called "despicable." Both have awaited trials in Chester County after Lewis's 9-year-old daughter was found to be severely abused and tortured, near death, in late November.

Moscharis was charged with Attempted Homicide and Strangulation Blocking Nose and Mouth, False Imprisonment of a Minor, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse with Serious Bodily Injury, and other crimes.

Bail was set at $350,000 for Julianne Lewis, 31, who remains in Chester County Prison, but bail was denied for Moscharis, according to court documents.

The Chester County District Attorney's Office and the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department on Thanksgiving Day 2020 charged Lewis, of West Chester, with multiple counts of Aggravated Assault, Kidnapping a Minor, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, False Imprisonment, Conspiracy, and related charges for her alleged role in the brutal beating, systemic abuse, and neglect of her 9-year old daughter.

To read about a child abuse prevention training program the Chester County District Attorney's Office offers to help adult citizens identify abuse, go here.

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