Abuzz with police activity a day earlier, the neighborhood where a 37-year-old Kingston woman was killed with a hatchet returned to quiet on Monday.
Neighbors struggled to comprehend the brutal beating of Catherine Tabit as well as the heinous crime her former boyfriend, John Stone of Shickshinny, is charged with commiting.
"It's something all of us will never understand." said Shickshinny Mayor Beverly Moore, who lives several houses away from the 131 N. Canal St. murder scene.
Mr. Stone, 58, stands accused of killing Ms. Tabit while they argued about when he would drive her home to Kingston.
"It's a horrible tragedy," said Ms. Moore, who has lived on the quiet, riverfront street for 18 years. "For as long as I lived here, we haven't had a homicide in town."
According to neighbors, Mr. Stone, who is battling cancer, is a nice man and normally very calm.
Mr. Stone and Ms. Tabit broke off a relationship in August, according to police and neighbors. Ms. Tabit had not visited Mr. Stone's home since then, neighbors said.
Ms. Tabit called Mr. Stone at about 11 p.m. Saturday and asked him to pick her up in Kingston, according to arrest papers. At Mr. Stone's home, Ms. Tabit used his computer to play cards and chat online, and then made food.
An argument began soon after, and Ms. Tabit wanted to go home immediately, while Mr. Stone wanted to take a nap first, police said. During the argument, Ms. Tabit slapped Mr. Stone, and they shoved each other.
Police said Mr. Stone admitted that during the fight, he grabbed a hatchet that was in the kitchen and repeatedly struck Ms. Tabit in the head, killing her.
"I can't believe I got in an argument with her and did what I did," Mr. Stone told police, according to arrest papers.
Neighbors said police had been called to the home before due to domestic disputes, but no domestic violence charges were filed against Mr. Stone or Ms. Tabit. Court records indicate neither held a protection-from-abuse order against the other.
Mr. Stone remains jailed in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility without bail.
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