Rachel Ann Dukus

Rachel Ann Dukus, a 57-year-old White/Caucasian female from Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania, was found dead on the morning of January 3, 2015, after Pennsylvania State Police responded to a report of a shooting at a residence on Pavlick Road near Plymouth Township. The Luzerne County coroner later ruled her death a homicide, finding that she died from a gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead at 6:45 a.m. after being found unresponsive inside the home.

Rachel was remembered by family as Rachel Gleco Dukus, born in Nanticoke on April 11, 1957. She had graduated from John S. Fine Sr. High School in 1975, worked for employers including Erwin Staffing, Letica Bucket Company and Techneglas, and was connected to Diamond Valley Church in Dallas. Her obituary described her as someone who enjoyed arts and crafts and spending time with nieces and nephews, and her death left a large extended family grieving.

The investigation soon turned toward her brother, Nicholas Gleco, who was 44 at the time. State police charged him on January 29, 2015, accusing him of fatally shooting Rachel inside the residence. Investigators said the shooting followed tension over a missing rifle that had belonged to their late father. According to reports, Gleco had been upset and had questioned family members, including Rachel, about the missing gun before the fatal shooting. Police said he told investigators the shooting was accidental and happened while he and Rachel were talking about the missing rifle.

Nicholas Gleco was charged with involuntary manslaughter, and prosecutors also initially pursued other counts, including aggravated assault, before that aggravated assault charge was withdrawn. At one point, he remained free on $250,000 bail while the case moved through Luzerne County Court. In August 2015, Gleco pleaded guilty to misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person. Judge Lesa S. Gelb sentenced him immediately to serve nine to 18 months in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, with a report date later that month.

No separate outside suspect was identified in the online reports reviewed. The criminal case centered on Rachel's brother, Nicholas Gleco, and ended with his guilty plea and jail sentence rather than a murder trial.