On a cold December night in 2017, Richard Labar, a 58-year-old male, was working his job as a Domino's Pizza delivery driver in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, unaware that a delivery call would be his last. He was dispatched to a building near the campus of East Stroudsburg University, a location chosen by three individuals with the intention of robbery.
This seemingly routine delivery would tragically end in his murder, a crime that would later be described by the prosecuting attorney as 'utterly disgusting.' The plan was set in motion by Carolina Carmona, who placed the pizza order. As Labar arrived, she was there to meet him, but lurking in the nearby bushes was her armed accomplice, Israel Berrios. The third member of the trio, Carmona's brother Salvador Roberts, waited in a getaway car two blocks away.
When Richard Labar approached to deliver the order, Berrios emerged with a sawed-off shotgun and demanded money. Labar resisted, and a struggle ensued. In the conflict, Berrios shot Labar in the face at point-blank range. As Labar lay on the ground, Carmona and Berrios went through his pockets, stealing the meager $100 he was carrying before fleeing to the waiting vehicle driven by Roberts. A patrolman discovered Labar, and he was rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital. However, his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead the following day, which was also his 58th birthday.
The investigation into Richard Labar's death led authorities to the three perpetrators. Detectives utilized surveillance footage, witness statements, and evidence found at the scene, including the remains of a shotgun shell and footprints in the snow, to identify the suspects. A search of Berrios's home uncovered a sawed-off shotgun and shoes that matched the prints left at the crime scene. All three, Carolina Carmona, Israel Berrios, and Salvador Roberts, were arrested and faced charges for their roles in the murder. None of the suspects were students at the university. During the investigation, Berrios also admitted to his involvement in other recent robberies, including one targeting another Domino's delivery driver.
The legal process that followed saw multiple delays, including a mistrial due to a computer glitch during jury selection and further postponements because of the coronavirus pandemic. Eventually, all three defendants entered into plea agreements. Israel Berrios, who was 17 at the time of the murder, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 60.5 years to life in prison. Carolina Carmona pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and robbery, receiving a sentence of 29.5 to 60 years. Her brother, Salvador Roberts, also pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and robbery and was sentenced to 25 to 60 years in prison. During sentencing, Roberts offered an apology to Labar's family, while Berrios quoted scripture and expressed a desire to become a great man one day.
