Murder charges anticipated in Unity woman's disappearance

A Westmoreland County prosecutor said Friday that murder charges will be filed against a Unity man who has been long suspected in the disappearance of Cassandra Gross.

After a court hearing in which the lawyer for Thomas Stanko asked a judge to dismiss pending criminal cases filed after Gross’ disappearance in April 2018, Assistant District Attorney Pete Flanigan said the investigation into her apparent death is nearing completion.

“We anticipate filing criminal homicide charges against him for her death,” Flanigan said. “We will file them when the time is right.”

Gross of Unity was last seen April 7, 2018, and reported missing two days later when her blind and diabetic dog was found wandering alone in the Beatty Crossroads area. The next day, state police found her Mitsubishi Outlander burned almost beyond recognition in a wooded area near Twin Lakes Park.

In the days after her disappearance, state police were seen searching two Unity properties Stanko owns.

Gross would have turned 54 in May. She was declared legally dead in January 2019 by a Westmoreland County judge. State police have continued to look for evidence of Gross’ whereabouts, and they classify the case as a homicide. No arrests have been made.

Gross’ mother, Kathe, on Friday said she recently was told by prosecutors that murder charges would be filed against Stanko.

“I wish they would hurry up and bring it to trial,” she said. “It’s almost three years, and that’s a long time when you’re in my shoes.”

Kathe Gross and family members continue to search for her daughter and evidence of her remains.

In May, state troopers searched on property where Stanko’s mother lives on White Fence Lane next to Unity Cemetery and found several items that were sent out for testing. Police have not publicly detailed those items.

Stanko, 50, has been in jail since April 2018 on charges unrelated to Gross’ disappearance and, through defense attorney Dante Bertani, has denied any involvement or knowledge of Gross’ death.

“They are full of crap,” Bertani said Friday in response to statements made about potential charges filed against his client. “If you want to find out if he killed that girl, let him out of jail. If he did it, within an hour he’ll go see where she is and if she is still there.”

Stanko did not appear in court or participate in Friday’s court hearing. He’s been in federal custody for more than a year as he awaits trial on federal gun possession charges.

Bertani is seeking a dismissal of other cases pending against Stanko involving allegations he was in possession of a stolen all-terrain vehicle; violated terms of a drunken-driving sentence; conspired with his mother to steal government benefits; and assault allegations related to a Youngwood bar fight in 2017.

During Friday’s brief hearing before Judge Tim Krieger, Bertani argued Stanko’s speedy trial rights were violated because more than two years have passed since the first charges were filed in state court.

“The district attorney has violated every right this defendant has. They wanted to keep him in jail as long as they can,” Bertani said.

Flanigan said the trial delays were caused by the pending federal weapons case, which must be disposed of before federal marshals return Stanko to state custody. The federal prosecution has been routinely postponed at Stanko’s request, he said.

The prosecutor also argued that dismissal of the pending state cases may not be in Stanko’s best interest.

“The murder of Cassandra Gross may be a chip in Mr. Stanko’s negotiations with prosecutors. It makes one wonder about the efficacy and wisdom the defendant has engaged in that this motion was brought in his name,” Flanigan said.

Krieger asked to review written legal arguments and said he will take the defense’s request under advisement.

Renatta Signorini contributed to this report.