Crime Victims’ Center lauded at 40th anniversary

County officials, residents praise agency for decades of advocacy By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times State Sen. Andy Dinniman reads from a certificate honoring the Crime Victims’ Center that he presented to Peggy Gusz, its executive director. The vast majority of residents go about their business with no need for the Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc. (CVC), and that’s...

Ex-lover gets 40- to 80-year term in shovel murder

Stephen Shappell tells victim’s family he doesn’t deserve to be forgiven  By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Stephen Shappell will spend 40 to 80 years in prison for the 2010 homicide of his boss, who was also his ex-lover’s husband. He believed her when she said the only obstacle to their lifelong happiness was her husband. And even after Stephen Shappell sat behind...

Guilty plea caps tumultuous 2010 murder case

Mother of three admits conspiring with young lover to kill husband   By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Morgan M. Mengel will spend life in prison after pleading guilty to the first-degree murder of her husband. By the end of the hour-long proceeding Tuesday, a West Goshen woman had pleaded guilty to the  first-degree murder of her husband more than two years ago, and most of the...