Pennsylvania Husband Richard Walski On The Run After Wife Found Murdered

Investigators say wife Patricia Walski's body was discovered inside their Pennsylvania home in August 2020.

December 10, 2020

Richard Walski, top left, on the run after being charged with the murder of wife Patricia Walski, bottom right. Images provided by WTAJ and Pennsylvannia State Police.

Richard Walski, top left, on the run after being charged with the murder of wife Patricia Walski, bottom right. Images provided by WTAJ and Pennsylvannia State Police.

By: Michelle Sigona

The hunt is on to find a man who is wanted for allegedly murdering his wife and going on the run. According to the Pennsylvania State Police, authorities were called to a Larksville home on August 13, 2020 for a welfare check when they made a gruesome discovery.

Police say inside they located the body of 38-year-old Patricia Walski. She was shot and stuffed in a garbage bag on the first floor bathroom, reports add.

Patricia Walski's uncle, Tom McAteer, spoke out recently to ABC 27 about their family dynamic and how he made missing person fliers after he couldn't reach his niece. Well, we are a very close-knit family. Patricia would regularly communicate with my wife and my wife’s sister, Tricia’s aunt every day pretty much. There was some concern that all stopped on July 30th," McAteer said.

During a recent press conference, Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said,"When police arrived, they immediately noticed the odor of human decomposition, and in a search of the residence uncovered Patricia's body behind a door that had been secured with screws."


According to the criminal complaint affidavit, Walski is charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.


Over the course of the last few months, authorities have learned a lot more about Walski. WNEP reports he liquidated personal property prior to the murder, including, "a vehicle, firearms, his fishing boat, and the engagement ring of Patricia Walski, which he sold on July 30 of 2020." Walski was also on dating websites, and may have taken several firearms and his passport and wiped clean an iPad, WNEP adds. The engagement ring was reportedly sold for $1,400 and all the couple's bank accounts were drained.

A neighbor reportedly spoke out and said they thought the couple was on a fishing trip, because the boat was gone. It was later discovered that the boat was sold.

At some point, authorities say they know he did some traveling and went between areas of Pennsylvania and New York. Those areas include, "Luzerne County, Tunkhannock, Wyoming County; Berwick, Columbia County; Binghamton, New York; and Henderson Harbor, New York."

Salavantis said during the press conference, only days after Patricia was found, Walski's Chevrolet pickup was found in the area under a bridge. She says the truck was parked there on August 11, 2020 and a smoldering campfire was also discovered nearby. Reports indicate the truck was unlocked and the keys were in the front seat.

Walski has not been seen again. The Citizens Voice reports the last activity on his cell phone was August 4. Authorities are not ruling out the possibility Walski took his own life, but at this point, according to reports, nothing has been found to indicate a suicide.

If you know where Walski is hiding out, please contact: 570-697-2000.






Composite of Richard Walski [Pennsylvannia State Police and WTAJ]

Composite of Richard Walski [Pennsylvannia State Police and WTAJ]

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