Fair 64°

Jillian Pikora

Senior Assistant Managing Editor

jpikora@dailyvoice.com

Jillian is an editor and reporter based out of Pennsylvania's capital city of Harrisburg. She has a degree in Political Science and is a former political campaign manager. For over a decade, she has worked as a staff reporter and freelance writer at Sisters Magazine, The Tempest, Huffington Post, CairoScene, and several other outlets. Before joining Daily Voice, Jillian worked as a digital news editor at Hearst's local NBC affiliate, WGAL News 8. She currently assists in managing Virginia, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts; as well as reporting stories in Pennsylvania for Daily Voice.

Jillian Pikora's Contributions

News
Mormon Missionary Charged With Assaulting 14 Boys Caught In PA After Years Fleeing: DOJ Mormon Missionary Charged With Assaulting 14 Boys Caught In PA After Years Fleeing: DOJ
Mormon Missionary Charged With Assaulting 14 Boys Caught In PA After Years Fleeing: DOJ A former Mormon missionary who fled trial after allegedly sexually abusing 14 boys in Tonga was arrested in Pennsylvania, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday, July 24. William James Purdy, 28, of West Valley, Utah, was taken into custody in Pittsburgh after being indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of sexually exploiting minors overseas. Purdy traveled to Tonga in 2017 as part of a mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to court documents. While there, he allegedly groomed and sexually abused multiple boys—some of whom lived with him…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Drunk, High, And Speeding: Wyomissing Teen Charged In Crash That Killed Friend: Affidavit Drunk, High, And Speeding: Wyomissing Teen Charged In Crash That Killed Friend: Affidavit
Drunk, High, And Speeding: Wyomissing Teen Charged In Crash That Killed Friend: Affidavit An 18-year-old Pennsylvania driver was drunk, high, and doing nearly 76 mph when he crashed into a tractor-trailer— killing his 17-year-old friend and seriously injuring another teen, according to charges announced by Berks County prosecutors on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Isaac Pierre Orsag, of Wyomissing, has been charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, recklessly endangering another person, and related offenses, District Attorney John T. Adams said in a release. Court documents reveal Orsag had alcohol, THC, fentanyl, and benzodiazepines in his s…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
220 Bags Of Fentanyl, Loaded Gun Seized In Reading Drug Bust: DA 220 Bags Of Fentanyl, Loaded Gun Seized In Reading Drug Bust: DA
220 Bags Of Fentanyl, Loaded Gun Seized In Reading Drug Bust: DA A Reading man was arrested after a raid turned up hundreds of bags of fentanyl and a loaded gun, the Berks County District Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday, July 24. Christian Vazquez-Perez, 30, was taken into custody when detectives served a search warrant at his home on the 500 block of Mulberry Street around 9:20 a.m., the DA’s Drug Task Force said. Inside, authorities seized: 220 packets of fentanyl, A fully loaded Palmetto State Armory 9mm semi-automatic pistol, An Ohaus digital scale, Packaging materials, A small bag containing suspected cocaine, $334 in suspected drug money,…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Child Raped While Sleeping; Honey Brook Teen Arrested, DA Says Child Raped While Sleeping; Honey Brook Teen Arrested, DA Says
Child Raped While Sleeping; Honey Brook Teen Arrested, DA Says A 7-year-old girl was raped while sleeping at a home in Chester County, authorities announced on Thursday, July 24. Drake Lease, 18, of Honey Brook, was arrested and charged with Rape of a Child, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse with a Child, and related crimes, according to Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe. **WARNING THE FOLLOWING IS DISTURBING** The assault occurred on Friday, July 19 while the girl was staying overnight at a house in West Brandywine Township, officials said. The child told investigators Lease woke her up, removed her underwear, and ana…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
'Coward' Husband Gets Life For Strangling Manheim Mom; Daughter Discovers Body: DA 'Coward' Husband Gets Life For Strangling Manheim Mom; Daughter Discovers Body: DA
'Coward' Husband Gets Life For Strangling Manheim Mom; Daughter Discovers Body: DA A Penn Township man who admitted to strangling his wife to death has been sentenced to life in prison, Lancaster County prosecutors announced on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Matthew Scott Harrison, 49, pleaded guilty to Felony First-Degree Murder and Felony Strangulation for killing his wife, Jami Harrison, 49, originally from Manheim, at their home on the 2200 block of East Mount Hope Road on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. He was sentenced Wednesday, July 23 by Judge Jeffrey Conrad to life in prison plus five to 10 years. The judge condemned Harrison’s actions as “one of the most cowardly acts a man ca…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Kentucky Man Extradited After Coercing 13-Year-Old Bucks County Girl Into Sex Acts With Men: DA Kentucky Man Extradited After Coercing 13-Year-Old Bucks County Girl Into Sex Acts With Men: DA
Kentucky Man Extradited After Coercing 13-Year-Old Bucks County Girl Into Sex Acts With Men: DA A Kentucky man has been extradited to Bucks County and arraigned on dozens of charges for allegedly trafficking a 13-year-old girl and arranging sexual encounters with adult men, authorities announced on Wednesday, July 23. Zachary Lee McCauley, 29, of Louisville, was formally arraigned Tuesday evening before Magisterial District Judge Gary Gambardella. His bail was set at $10 million. He is being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday, July 31. McCauley is charged with trafficking in individuals, corruption of minors, unlawful cont…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
'Her Name Will Not Be Forgotten': Best Friend Remembers Jerkera Battle, 22, Killed In Allentown 'Her Name Will Not Be Forgotten': Best Friend Remembers Jerkera Battle, 22, Killed In Allentown
'Her Name Will Not Be Forgotten': Best Friend Remembers Jerkera Battle, 22, Killed In Allentown The 22-year-old woman shot dead in her Allentown home this week is being remembered as a joyful, animal-loving young mom whose smile never failed to light up a room. Jerkera B. Battle, a Bethlehem native and Liberty High School graduate, was found shot in the head on Tuesday, July 22, inside her home in the 700 block of W. Turner Street, as Daily Voice previously reported. Her ex-boyfriend, Adam Makowka, 27, has been charged with criminal homicide and is awaiting extradition to face charges in Lehigh County, authorities said. Now, Battle’s best friend is speaking out. '13 Years Of Non-Stop…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Dad Of 3 ID'd As Motorcyclist Killed In Crash With Trash Truck On Route 322 In Swatara Township Dad Of 3 ID'd As Motorcyclist Killed In Crash With Trash Truck On Route 322 In Swatara Township
Dad Of 3 ID'd As Motorcyclist Killed In Crash With Trash Truck On Route 322 In Swatara Township A motorcyclist killed in a crash with a trash truck that shut down Route 322 in Swatara Township has been identified as 37-year-old Noel Soto, according to a GoFundMe launched by his family. The crash happened just before 5 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23 at the intersection of Witmer Drive and Paxton Street/Route 322, PennDOT spokesperson Fritzi Schreffler said. Soto, of Bethlehem, was riding his motorcycle when he collided with a trash truck. He died at the scene. The trash truck driver was transported to Hershey Medical Center for treatment, though their condition has not been released. Soto…

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by Jillian Pikora
Obituaries
Toby Atwood, 21, Dies Running Half Marathon In PA: ZTA President, Scholar Remembered Toby Atwood, 21, Dies Running Half Marathon In PA: ZTA President, Scholar Remembered
Toby Atwood, 21, Dies Running Half Marathon In PA: ZTA President, Scholar Remembered A Thiel College student-athlete and beloved campus leader died after collapsing during a half marathon in Erie on Sunday, July 20, 2025, the school announced on Tuesday, July 22.  Toby Marie Atwood, 21, of Kittanning, was running the Presque Isle Half Marathon when she suddenly collapsed and later died, according to Thiel College. A double major in business administration and accounting, Atwood maintained a 4.0 GPA and was ranked first in her class. She was a recipient of a full scholarship and was inducted into both Alpha Chi, the National College Honor Society, and Chi Eta Sigma, the…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
Pedestrian Struck By Motorcycle In Central Islip, Seriously Injured: Police Pedestrian Struck By Motorcycle In Central Islip, Seriously Injured: Police
Pedestrian Struck By Motorcycle In Central Islip, Seriously Injured: Police A pedestrian was seriously injured after being struck by a motorcycle in Central Islip, Suffolk County Police said on Wednesday, July 23. Xavier Batista, 31, of Brentwood, was driving a 2015 Honda motorcycle westbound on Suffolk Avenue near Islip Avenue when he hit a man in the roadway at 5:35 p.m., according to detectives with the department’s Third Squad. A 45-year-old pedestrian from Central Islip, suffered serious injuries and was transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore. Batista also sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the same hospital for treat…

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by Jillian Pikora
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