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Nazareth/Northampton News

Skeletal remains of convicted killer found in Northampton County

William Edelman Jr..jpeg
Photo
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Catasauqua Police Department
The remains found in Northampton County belonged to William S. Edelman Jr., 65, of Catasauqua

MOORE TWP., Pa. — The skeletal remains of a Lehigh County man who reportedly served time in prison for a double murder were found by hunters this week in Northampton County, the coroner said.

The remains belonged to William S. Edelman Jr., 65, of Catasauqua, said Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek. Edelman’s cause and manner of death are pending.

Edelman was a missing person last seen on March 24 of this year, according to a news release from Lysek’s office.

On Monday, authorities were summoned to state game lands in Moore Township after two hunters discovered the skeletal remains about 4:20 p.m., Lysek said.

Edelman formerly lived in Moore Township. According to Lysek, Edelman's date of death is consistent with the time at which he went missing.

Besides the coroner’s office, assisting in the investigation are Moore Township police, state police, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office.

Edelman had been convicted in the 1990 shotgun slayings of Alex Turoczi III, 37, of Saylorsburg, and James Yaple, 37, of Kunkletown, in Monroe County, according to a Morning Call article.

At the time, according to press accounts, Edelman was dubbed as the "Kunkletown Killer."

In 1992, Edelman pleaded guilty but mentally ill to two counts of third-degree murder. He was sentenced to 15-30 years in prison, according to the newspaper.

He had been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic prior to his conviction, according to the articles.