DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — A 30-year-old man faces charges of homicide and robbery in connection with the death of a Dauphin County man, State Police said Tuesday at a news conference.
Larry Buffenmeyer Sr., 77, was assaulted outside of his home on North Hill Drive in East Hanover Township around 10 p.m. Saturday. He suffered trauma to the head from a blunt force object and died at the hospital early Sunday morning.
State Police wrote in the criminal complaint that Richard Hudgins went to Buffenmeyer’s residence that night to steal his vehicle, a Chevrolet Equinox. Buffenmeyer confronted Hudgins during the theft, which led to the suspect striking the victim in the head with a long cylinder object.
Hudgins got in the vehicle and continued to hit Buffenmeyer as he drove in reverse. Hudgins then pulled forward and that’s when, according to the criminal complaint, the front end of the vehicle struck Buffenmeyer’s head. He then fled the scene.
During the investigation, State Police spoke with a witness who advised that a vehicle, bearing the same license plate as the victim’s vehicle, pulled into their driveway in the 8300 block of Jonestown Road — approximately 2.1 miles from Buffenmeyer’s residence — between 11:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. The criminal complaint said that the witness approached the driver, who was described as a white male in his 20’s, and saw that he was “nervous and agitated.” Hudgins told the witness he was sorry and left.
State Police noted that Hudgins was determined to be of interest due to the text messages between him and Buffenmeyer. When troopers went to his last known address, he was not located. But the landlord provided State Police with a letter he presumably wrote where he referenced turning himself in for a criminal case.
According to State Police, Buffenmeyer’s Equinox was recovered around 12:24 p.m. Tuesday behind a building in the 200 block of Campmeeting Road in Union Township, Lebanon County.
“Blood transfer evidence was observed in plain view on the exterior of the vehicle, specifically on the front hood, rear hatch and both driver’s side and passenger side doors, and driver’s side rear wheel,” the criminal complaint stated.
State Police said that Hudgins was located and taken into custody at approximately 10 a.m., two hours or so before the victim’s vehicle was found.
Hudgins now faces charges.
