UPDATE 5/8/2025: Terrence Leroy Ray, the main suspect in the homicide of Jessica (Paul) Lockwood, was apprehended at 5:45 a.m. the morning of May 8th, in Westchester County, New York, without incident. The arrest was made by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Pennsylvania State Police Fugitive Apprehension Unit.
At a May 5th press conference, Luzerne County D.A. Sam Sangueldolce said investigators think they know the motive behind Ray’s actions.
“We have a theory we are not prepared to make public yet,” Sanguedolce said.
💚 GoFundMe for Jessica Lockwood’s children – Donate here
What happened to Jessica Lockwood?
On the morning of April 27, 2025, at about 7:00 a.m., the Hazleton City Fire Department responded to a report of a mannequin on fire on Club 40 Road near East Broad Street in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. The Hazleton Fire Department arrived at the scene to discover a human body wrapped in a tarp and set on fire. The victim was identified as 39-year-old Jessica Ann Lockwood, a dedicated volunteer firefighter, ambulance technician, and married mother of two from Frackville.
Jessica Lockwood had been reported missing the previous day after failing to pick up her son. With the help of her family, authorities tracked her cell phone and discovered it abandoned along Route 424.
Investigators reviewed the phone and found a series of text messages between Lockwood and a contact saved as “Og,” later identified as Terrence Leroy Ray, age 55. Lockwood’s final message, sent at 2:33 p.m. on April 26 to “Og”, read, “Here. I have to get my son.”
Police interviewed Lockwood’s incarcerated husband, James Lockwood, who told them he knew “Og” to be a pill dealer. Lockwood is serving a one-year prison sentence for firing a gun at a group of teenagers trespassing near the Harwood Volunteer Fire Company in Hazle Township, where both he and his wife had been active members. James started his prison sentence on April 10, just a few weeks before the murder.
During the interview, James Lockwood told investigators his wife had been buying painkillers from “Og” and that before he was incarcerated, James always accompanied her to the drug buys, which took place in an alley behind Ray’s home. He said Lockwood became addicted to pain meds after dealing with chronic pain due to extensive neck surgeries.
Ray has a prescription for Percocet, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
James Lockwood called Ray from the correctional facility and asked him if he knew where Lockwood was. Ray told him Jessica never showed up at his place, and he didn’t know where she was.
Evidence found in Hazleton burning body case
The day the body was discovered, authorities searched Ray’s side of the double-block residence at 137 Muir Avenue in Hazleton. The search revealed a pool of dried blood in the basement, blonde hair matching Lockwood’s, a single gold-plated diamond earring matching one missing from Lockwood’s body, blood-soaked trash bags and paper towels, blood on a red handcart and a piece of rope, and a torn pillowcase consistent with fabric used to wrap Lockwood’s legs. Two live 9mm rounds were also found, as well as an empty gun case and ownership papers for a 9mm Ruger handgun.
Surveillance footage captured Ray moving Lockwood’s vehicle from his residence to a location a block away. Additionally, a license plate reader recorded Ray’s dark blue Ford Explorer entering and exiting Club 40 Road around the time of the body’s discovery.
An autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Charles Siebert determined Lockwood died from a gunshot to the upper right chest and blunt force trauma leading to broken ribs, a shattered clavicle, and head trauma. The manner of death was ruled a homicide by Luzerne County Acting Coroner Kaitlin Keating.
Warrant issued for Terrence Leroy Ray – Jessica Lockwood homicide
On April 29, 2025, a criminal complaint was filed under seal, charging Terrence Ray with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence. The complaint was unsealed on May 5, 2025, during a press conference by Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce.
Sanguedolce stated that investigators think they’ve uncovered the motive behind Ray’s actions.
“We have a theory we are not prepared to make public yet,” Sanguedolce said.
Authorities believe Ray fled Luzerne County immediately after the Jessica Lockwood homicide and is currently at large. He left his dark blue Ford Explorer at his home on Muir Ave. He possibly has connections in the Bronx.
The Hazleton Standard Speaker reports that Ray once assaulted his daughter and threatened to shoot her inside the same home where he is alleged to have murdered Jessica Lockwood, according to a PFA filed by that daughter in July 2022.
Ray is described as weighing about 240 pounds and is 6’1″ tall. He is considered armed and dangerous. If you see him, do not approach. Call 911.
💚 A GoFundMe campaign established to support Jessica Lockwood’s children has raised over $21,000 as of May 7, 2025 – Donate here
🕯️ A Celebration of Life is scheduled for May 13, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Harman Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc. in Drums, Pennsylvania.
📞 Submit a Tip
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact the Hazleton City Police Department.
- Tip Line (Non-Emergency): (570) 450-2080
- Submit a Tip Online: Hazleton Police Department Tip Submission
- Police Department Website: Hazleton City Police Department
📰 Local News Coverage
- May 1, 2025 – Volunteer firefighter identified in Club 40 Road homicide investigation / Times Leader
- May 2, 2025 – Community rallies around children of murder victim / Times Leader
- May 5, 2025 – Suspect identified in Hazleton burning body investigation / Times Leader
- May 5, 2025 – Authorities release new information after burning body discovered in Hazleton / PAHomepage
- May 5, 2025 – DA: Manhunt launched for suspect in Hazleton body-burning murder / Standard Speaker
- May 6, 2025 – Suspect named, sought for homicide in Luzerne County slaying / PAHomepage
- May 6, 2025 – Update on burning body found in Hazleton / PAHomepage
- May 6, 2025 – Luzerne County DA: Hazleton murder suspect on the run, considered dangerous / WVIA
- May 6, 2025 – Manhunt Launched After Brutal Killing Of Firefighter, Mom Found Burning On PA Road / Daily Voice
- May 8, 2025 – Suspect apprehended in Hazleton homicide of volunteer firefighter / The Times Leader
© 2025 NEPA True Crime. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express permission is prohibited. If you’re interested in republishing or collaborating, please reach out via the contact page. I’d love to hear from you.