BY STACI WILSON
Police say Benjamin Ball, 26, of New Milford, strangled his mother, Lisa Ball, to death at their Washington St., New Milford Borough residence Wednesday, Jan. 14. Members of the State Police Forensics Unit out of Dunmore were on the scene until about 9 p.m.
A New Milford man allegedly choked his mother to death Wednesday morning, Jan. 14, and then padlocked her body in a large plastic box with a hinged lid.
Benjamin Ball, 26, 11 Washington St., New Milford, was charged by Tpr. Mark Keyes with homicide in the death of Lisa Ball, 52, of the same address.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Ball sought a friend’s help to dispose of the body. Instead of helping, Timothy Millard reported the incident at the Gibson barracks of the Pennsylvania State Police.
BENJAMIN BALL
Ball was located at the Washington St. residence by police, and agreed to come to the Gibson barracks to be interviewed while the residence was secured. Police did not find Lisa Ball’s body in their preliminary search of the home.
At first, Ball denied his involvement to police but later admitted to choking his mother during an argument. According to the affidavit, Ball told police he snapped and started choking his mother as she sat on the couch, then stopped. He told police she began yelling at him a second time, he choked her again and when he stopped she wasn’t breathing.
Ball told police he carried his mother’s body to an upstairs bedroom, then sought help from his friend. When refused, Ball returned to the residence and put her body in the tote box and put a padlock on it.
He gave police written consent to search the residence, and troopers located Lisa Ball’s lifeless body.
Members of the State Police Forensics Unit, Dunmore, were at the residence until about 9 p.m. Wednesday night.
He was arraigned Wednesday night by Magisterial District Judge Jodi Cordner and is being held without bail in the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Jan. 26 in New Milford District Court.
An autopsy on Lisa Ball’s body was conducted Thursday morning by Dr. Gary Ross.
Susquehanna County Coroner Anthony Conarton said the cause of death was asphyxiation due to strangulation.
Family friend Theora Brunner described Lisa Ball as a bubbly person. “She had such a wonderful laugh, that you had to laugh when she did.”
Brunner said she last saw Lisa at a store in Tunkhannock. “When I heard her voice and laughter, I immediately knew it was her. It was great to chat with her.”
In 2011, Benjamin Ball was one of four people arrested in connection with a series of burglaries at area pharmacies in which Vicodin, Hydrocodone and Oxycodone were stolen. In that same year, Ball was also a passenger in a vehicle where police found over 200 prescription narcotics.
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