A troubled Terre Hill man who committed suicide in South Carolina June 22 rather than surrender to police, was the same man who robbed a 90-year-old woman here days before, causing her death, authorities said today.
Travis J. Meints, 21, who fatally shot himself in a friend's mobile home near Greer, S.C., had committed a home-invasion robbery June 18 at 404 Kurtz Road in Earl Township, New Holland Police concluded.
The resident, Anna M. Sensenig, who was home at the time, was not injured during the break-in but later said she was "under stress as the result of it," Chief John V. Yost said today. She died at Ephrata Community Hospital two days later, on June 20.
County Coroner Dr. Stephen G. Diamantoni ruled her death a homicide.
Police said they linked Meints to the Earl Township robbery and a pair of other holdups here based largely on the gun that was recovered at the scene of his suicide. A piece of the gun — from its stock — had been found at the scene of a convenience-store robbery in East Earl Township.
He had also been a suspect in the holdup of a Subway restaurant in East Cocalico Township. Police said they linked Meints to the robberies based on the victims' descriptions of him, the car he was driving at the time and its license plate.
He was also living near the robberies at the time, but had gone to South Carolina to visit friends.
"Based on all the above, to include the similarities and locations of the incidents, police believe at this time that Travis Meints was the person who entered Sensenig's home and robbed her and eventually caused her tragic death," Yost said in a statement. "Absent further information, these cases will be closed."
The possible motive for his actions was to get money for drugs.
"Meints' acquaintances advised he was using drugs during the times of the incidents ..." Yost said.
In the Sensenig robbery, Meints had knocked on the door and asked for money and gasoline. He forced his way inside and ransacked the home, ripping a phone from the wall and going through the woman's purse and dresser drawers.
In South Carolina, Meints was suspected of taking money, cell phones, a knife and a Ford Taurus in a home-invasion robbery on June 21 near Greer, which is between Spartanburg and Greenville.
Staff writer Tom Murse can be reached at tmurse@LNPnews.com or 481-6021.
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