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Arrest made in Eldred Township homicide

Graham Nicholas Norby-Vardac, 23, of Alexandria, Virginia, is escorted into the courtroom of District Judge Gary Whiteman for arraignment today.

An arrest has been made in the homicide of an elderly Eldred Township man last Wednesday, according to state police at Montoursville.

Graham Nicholas Norby-Vardac, 23, of Alexandria, Virginia, was to be arraigned this afternoon before District Judge Gary Whiteman on homicide charges in the slaying of Donald Kleese Jr. of Quaker Hill Road, Cogan Station, police said.

Norby-Vardac, who tried to flee to Canada after killing the man and steeling his vehicle, forced his way into Kleese’s home and struck the man multiple times in the head with a shovel, police said.

He was stopped at the Canadian border at Buffalo, New York, and held in Buffalo on stolen vehicle charges, police said. On Monday, Norby-Vardac waived extradition and was returned here today by state police.

Police said there is no known affiliation between Kleese and Norby-Vardac at this time.

Watch for a full report in tomorrow’s Sun-Gazette.

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