Burning Body Found in Hazleton on Sunday Identified

The Schuylkill County woman’s body found burning along Club 40 Road in Hazleton on Sunday has been identified as 39-year-old Jessica Lockwood, according to new information released by police in Hazleton.

Lockwood was reported missing last week out of Frackville. Her body was discovered burning at about 7 a.m. along Club 40 Rd. Initial calls to 9-1-1 indicated that a mannequin was on fire on the road.

However, when that fire was extinguished, it was learned that it was not a mannequin.

According to information released to The Canary by the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office and Coroner’s Office, an autopsy performed by Dr. Charles Siebert in Luzerne County on Tuesday morning determined the cause of Lockwood’s death to be a gunshot wound and blunt force trauma. The manner of death was homicide.

An investigation into Lockwood’s death by the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office is ongoing. Police in Hazleton believe this was an isolated incident.

Police are asking anyone with information on Lockwood’s death to contact Hazleton City detectives’ tip line at 570-450-2080 or contact them through the Hazleton Police Department Crimewatch page.

According to her obituary, Lockwood served as a firefighter and trustee for Harwood Fire Company in Drums, Luzerne County, and also worked as an ambulance technician.

Lockwood is survived by a husband, two sons, and two sisters. A funeral is planned for May 13 at Harwood Funeral Homes & Crematory in Drums.

A GoFundMe drive has been established in her memory to help her surviving family with immediate and long-term costs. It has already generated more than $14,000 in donations, as of Thursday afternoon.

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