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WILKES-BARRE — City Police Chief Marcella Lendacky warned residents of West Hollenback Avenue on Friday to be cautious and report any suspicious activity in the area after a 77-year-old woman was found dead Thursday night.

Lendacky said the death was considered suspicious. A post on the department’s Facebook page later in the evening said the death was being treated as a homicide.

According to the post:

Police responded to 50 W. Hollenback Avenue at 9 p.m. Thursday night for the report of a possible burglary and suspicious death. On arrival, officers entered the residence and found Eileen Riley, who lived at the residence, dead.

An autopsy was performed on Friday.

Police believe the incident is most likely not an isolated event. They are attempting to locate at least one male suspect who may have been seen loitering in the North End section of the city or the immediate area of the incident.

Anyone with information relating to the case is asked to contact the Wilkes-Barre Police Department Detective Division at 570-208-4222.

Lendacky said the detective division of the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, Pennsylvania State Forensic Service Unit and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office are involved in the investigation.

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By Alyssa Mursch

[email protected] and Brigid Edmunds

[email protected]