CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Hockenberry, accused of fatal stabbing, to undergo mental health evaluations

The Dallas Post - 5/19/2017

KINGSTON TWP. — Zackary Hockenberry’s preliminary hearing on criminal homicide and other charges was continued Friday to allow time for Hockenberry to undergo mental health evaluations.

It was the sixth time the hearing has been delayed.

Hockenberry, 15, is accused of fatally stabbing David Sinoracki and injuring his wife and daughter in a Sept. 2016 attack. He faces charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and burglary.

Hockenberry’s attorney, Frank Nocito, said the delay was a “concurrent decision between the defense and the district attorney’s office.”

Evaluations will be done by both the prosecution and defense to determine if Hockenberry is competent to stand trial, according to District Judge James E. Tupper, who continued Friday’s hearing.

“They will compare the results to see if they agree with the findings,” Tupper said.

Prosecutors allege Hockenberry, 14 at the time, entered the Sinoracki home at 7 Orchard St. in Trucksville and stabbed and killed Sinoracki, injuring his wife and daughter.

According to an affidavit of probable cause:

Officers arrived at the residence to find a woman, later identified as Bobbi Jo Sinoracki, sitting on a floor in the home, saying she was stabbed in the back.

Police found two women caring for David Sinoracki as he bled heavily from his chest. Police located Hockenberry restrained in a living room chair.

Bobbi Jo told police she was vacuuming in the living room when she felt “what she described as being punched in the back.” Bobbi Jo said she turned around and saw Hockenberry, who was holding a knife.

She then realized she was stabbed.

Hockenberry then went after David Sinoracki, who sustained multiple wounds to his chest.

The couple’s teenage daughter told police she heard her mother screaming for help and tried to intervene.

Police said the teen sustained a stab wound in the left side of her chest.

The victims were taken to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital in Plains Township for treatment.

Bobbi Jo Sinoracki was admitted to the hospital for treatment of multiple stab wounds. Her daughter was treated for a chest injury and released.

The preliminary hearing was rescheduled for July 21 in front of Tupper.