James Plance, a 45-year-old man from Smithfield, PA, was tragically shot to death on July 18, 2017. The incident was part of a complex love triangle involving Plance, his girlfriend Deana Hughes, 33, and Wiley Gambrel, 58. According to police reports, Gambrel shot Plance in the head at a home on Riger Road. After the shooting, Gambrel loaded Plance's body onto a dolly and placed it in a storage shed.
The case took a dramatic turn when Hughes called the police hours after the shooting,
leading to Gambrel's arrest. Gambrel admitted to the crime, and it was revealed that all three individuals had been smoking crack and drinking alcohol just before the incident. Hughes was also charged with abuse of a corpse and other offenses for her role in helping Gambrel clean up the crime scene.
The investigation into James Plance's death highlighted the dangerous consequences of interpersonal conflicts and substance abuse. The case remains a stark reminder of the potential for violence in volatile relationships.
