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Suicide victim is suspect in home-invasion robbery
Lancaster New Era
Published: Jun 25, 2008
13:56 EST
Terre Hill
By STAFF

The Terre Hill man who killed himself in South Carolina over the weekend is a possible suspect in last Wednesday's home-invasion robbery in Earl Township, New Holland police announced late this morning.

The possibility that 21-year-old Travis Meints robbed 90-year-old Anna M. Sensenig at her 404 Kurtz Road, New Holland, home is being pursued along with several other leads, New Holland Police Chief John V. Yost said in a press release.

Sensenig died Saturday at Ephrata Community Hospital. Her cause of death is not known. Results of an  autopsy have not been released.

Prior to issuing the press release,  Yost told New Era reporters that police have "nothing specific'' that places Meints in the Sensenig home.

But the chief said investigators see  some similarities between the New Holland case and a home invasion in South Carolina Sunday in which Meints was considered a suspect. New Holland police have been in touch with South Carolina authorities.

There are also similarities in the Kurtz Road home-invasion robbery and other recent unsolved robberies that have occurred at northern Lancaster County locations, New Holland police noted.

In the 11:30 a.m. press statement,  Yost said:

"The New Holland police department is  receiving numerous calls from the news media in regards to the death of Travis Meints in South Carolina.  We have been in contact with authorities in South Carolina concerning their investigation.

"Mr. Meints is being looked at as a possible suspect in the Kurtz Road robbery along with several other leads that are being pursued. We will update the media if there are any new developments."
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In the New Holland case, a robber believed to be in his 20s parked his car in Sensenig's driveway about 6:30 p.m. last Wednesday, telling her he needed help because his car had broken down.

After Sensenig gave him a small amount of money, he forced his way inside, police said, ransacking her home of 48 years, holding her at gunpoint and demanding more money. He disconnected a telephone in the home while making demands.

The robber and his car — a dark-colored sedan or compact vehicle — match descriptions from armed robberies last week in East Earl and East Cocalico townships, police said.

In South Carolina, Meints was suspected of taking money, cell phones, a knife and a Ford Taurus in a home-invasion robbery.


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QUOTE(raster_gal @ Jun 26 2008, 11:37 AM)
It's such a tragedy but it is what it is. Knowing him from middle school and high school, it was kind of expected. His parents are great people, just don't know how he came to be like this. He was a smart, and artistic guy, it's such a shame that he didn't use it for the full potiental that he had. He did some awful things in high school, too bad he didn't learn from it or get it out of his system. Just wished that he had mature and realize what he has done was wrong and he should admit it. Now that he's gone there is a messy trail left to clean. He was a mixture of a nice guy who could easily sweet talk to any girl, and a jerk who would do anything to get what he wanted. But like I said before... I'm not surprised that he did what he did... and I wouldn't be surprise too if he really did commit the other crimes.


What did he do in high school?

littledutchboy
QUOTE(flanagan @ Jun 26 2008, 09:05 AM)

Yeah....She sure did a fine job of raising this loser!!! He was obviously a coward and no benefit to society! Good Riddance!



There's nothing wrong with Travis' parents or his extended family. You can't blame parents for everything. Travis was an adult, and accountable for his own actions.

Being a parent means loving your child unconditionally, whether or not you like their actions and behavior.
shads_mom
Putting a gun in a 90 y/o woman's face? What a P.O.S.
SWWeiss
How dare you people say such horrible things. Being in a field where I see similar behaviors from troubled youth every day, I usually find there is a link back to the parents. But this is not always the case and clearly you didn't know him or his family. I happen to know his mother very well. I also know that BOTH of his parents did so many things to try to help him, as he clearly had some problems. He was raised in a very loving home with very caring parents who did as much for him as they could. He was adopted and unfortunately had a pre-disposition to be wreckless. In his own way, he showed his appreciation to them, but sadly his "nature" overpowered his "nurture." He had his strengths, he had his weaknesses - as all people do. And I won't say "what about his poor family" because they are not - they are strong-willed and rich in every capacity that matters in life. They did not write the obituary, but they have every right to focus on the good side of their son. An obituary is meant to reflect on what a person meant to their FAMILY, not to the community or society. So again, how DARE you speak with such words when you have no involvement in the family or their friends. How DARE you assume that the allegations of these local crimes were committed by him. There is no proven "trail of something" as someone has said. Yes, what he did was very wrong, but it was also very sad for everyone involved - the victims of the home in South Carolina, as well as his family and friends. So unless you know what you're talking about and you know ALL the facts, please spare the family and friends such hurtful comments.
pillar in paris
QUOTE(pillar in paris @ Jun 28 2008, 03:42 PM)
How dare you people say such horrible things. Being in a field where I see similar behaviors from troubled youth every day, I usually find there is a link back to the parents. But this is not always the case and clearly you didn't know him or his family. I happen to know his mother very well. I also know that BOTH of his parents did so many things to try to help him, as he clearly had some problems. He was raised in a very loving home with very caring parents who did as much for him as they could. He was adopted and unfortunately had a pre-disposition to be wreckless. In his own way, he showed his appreciation to them, but sadly his "nature" overpowered his "nurture." He had his strengths, he had his weaknesses - as all people do. And I won't say "what about his poor family" because they are not - they are strong-willed and rich in every capacity that matters in life. They did not write the obituary, but they have every right to focus on the good side of their son. An obituary is meant to reflect on what a person meant to their FAMILY, not to the community or society. So again, how DARE you speak with such words when you have no involvement in the family or their friends. How DARE you assume that the allegations of these local crimes were committed by him. There is no proven "trail of something" as someone has said. Yes, what he did was very wrong, but it was also very sad for everyone involved - the victims of the home in South Carolina, as well as his family and friends. So unless you know what you're talking about and you know ALL the facts, please spare the family and friends such hurtful comments.


You're right, I apologize. He is only a suspect at this point.

But if he DID do it, he's a P.O.S. as is anyone who commits such an act.
SWWeiss
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