Philly Crime Update

MONTGOMERY COUNTY TEACHER AND COACH ACCUSED OF S*X CRIMES INVOLVING 3 MINORS

A Montgomery County elementary school teacher and coach has been arrested on s*xual offense charges involving three minors, including a former student, according to prosecutors.

Jason Theodore, 54, a physical education teacher at Montgomery Elementary School in North Wales, was arrested Friday by Upper Gwynedd Township Police.

Theodore also worked as a wrestling coach at Pennbrook Middle School and as a local hockey coach.

According to prosecutors, the investigation began Sept. 9 after a young adult reported that Theodore had allegedly s*xually abused him for years, beginning when the victim was approximately 13 years old.

Investigators said the victim initially met Theodore online and later learned that he was a teacher and coach.

North Penn School District Superintendent Todd Bauer said police contacted the district Sept. 9 regarding allegations of “serious s*xual offenses involving minors.” Theodore was subsequently placed on leave pending the investigation.

Authorities say the investigation ultimately identified allegations involving three minors, one of whom was a former student.

Theodore was arrested Sept. 25. The investigation remains ongoing.

The charges are allegations, and Theodore is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

BALTIMORE TEACHER CHARGED WITH CHILD S*X TRAFFICKING IN CHESTER COUNTY

A Baltimore teacher is being held on $5 million bail after investigators say he s*xually abused and trafficked a child over a period of roughly two years.

The Chester County District Attorney’s Office announced charges against Rogie Legaspi, 56, of Baltimore, including Trafficking in Minors, 15 counts of Involuntary Deviate Sexual In*******se, Manufacturing Child Sexual Abuse Material, and related offenses.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators began looking into the case after receiving a ChildLine report involving a now-15-year-old victim.

Authorities allege Legaspi first contacted the victim when the child was 12 years old, initially identifying himself as “Alex.” Investigators say he later traveled from Maryland to Chester County to meet the victim in person.

Prosecutors allege Legaspi s*xually abused the victim from June 2024 through June 2026, repeatedly traveling to Chester and Lancaster counties for s*xual contact. He is also accused of recording the encounters, providing money and other items in exchange for s*x, taking the victim to hotels, and coercing the child into s*xual encounters with another adult man.

Investigators say they identified Legaspi through vehicle registration records, automated license plate readers, hotel records and surveillance video.

On Sept. 17, detectives allegedly posed as the victim while communicating with Legaspi. Authorities say he agreed to travel to Chester County the following day and was arrested when he arrived at a meeting location in Parkesburg Borough.

Legaspi was unable to post $5 million bail and was remanded to Chester County Prison. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 19.

Investigators are asking anyone who knows of another child who may have had concerning contact with Legaspi to call Chester County Detectives at 610-344-6866.

Legaspi is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Police are asking for the public’s help locating missing person William Samuel Simpson. William was last seen September 22, 2026, at 10:45am, on the 12xx block of Stanwood St.

William is 89 years-old, 5’9″, 130lb, white hair, blue eyes wearing a light t-shirt, tan cargo pants, and tan slippers. William drives a 2019 Dodge Caravan (Gray) PA TAG MMY4413.

Anyone with information regarding William’s whereabouts is urged to contact Northeast Detective Division at 215-686-3153 or call 911.

The Philadelphia Police Department is seeking the public’s help locating missing juvenile Shahid Muhammad. Shahid was last seen September 22, 2026, at 11:00 PM, on the 29xx block of Gransback St.

Shahid is 14 years-of-age, wearing a white shirt and blue shorts.

Anyone with information concerning Shahid’s whereabouts is urged to contact East Detective Division at 215-686-3243 or dial 911.

The Philadelphia Police Department’s Southwest Detective Division is requesting the public’s assistance in locating missing juvenile Haleef Washington. Haleef was last seen September 24, 2026, on the 1700 block of Cecil B. Moore Ave. Haleef frequents Myers Recreation Center, and the 1800 block of S Alden.

Haleef is 14 years-of-age, 5’4″, 120 lbs., wearing a grey hoodie, black sweatpants, and gold and white sneakers.

Anyone with any information regarding Haleef Washington’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183 or 215-686-3184, or dial 911.

SUSPECT SOUGHT AFTER FORCING HIS WAY INTO SOUTH PHILLY HOME, FIGHTING WITH RESIDENT

Philadelphia Police are searching for a suspect accused of forcing his way into a South Philadelphia home after surveillance video allegedly captured him lurking around the neighborhood.

Police say that around 6:20 a.m. on September 11, the suspect was captured on surveillance video in the area of 20th and Morris Streets, looking into homes and walking through nearby alleyways.

Approximately 10 minutes later, police say the suspect spotted a resident outside putting out the trash and approached.

The suspect allegedly forced his way through the front door of the residence, leading to a struggle with the victim inside.

The victim fought back and was able to force the intruder to retreat, according to police.

The suspect fled the home empty-handed.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information about the incident is urged to contact Philadelphia Police.

Byron Vinson, 23, was wanted by for murder. He is accused of a shooting death that occurred May 8th, 2024, in the 7100 block of Limekiln Pike. A homicide warrant was issued May 17th and Vinson had been a fugitive for more than 2 years. After attempting to escape a residence by jumping off a second floor balcony and homicide detectives captured Vinson in the 1400 block of 72nd Ave.

PHILLY TEACHER ADMITS SHE LIED FOR YEARS ABOUT BEING BLACK AND PALESTINIAN

A Philadelphia public school teacher and activist has admitted she falsely portrayed herself as Black and Palestinian for years, prompting organizations she worked with to sever ties with her.

Hannah Gann, a veteran Philadelphia School District educator who teaches at The Workshop School in West Philadelphia, acknowledged the deception after members of Philly Educators for Palestine and the Racial Justice Organizing Committee questioned her about her background.

Gann subsequently released a public apology, acknowledging that she is a white woman and saying she had hidden or lied about her background to people throughout her life. She also described herself as a woman of significant privilege and wealth.

Gann had been a prominent participant in pro-Palestinian and racial-justice organizing in Philadelphia. She had publicly identified herself as Palestinian American and, according to reporting reviewed by The Inquirer, made claims about Palestinian relatives that activists later investigated and disputed.

The two activist groups said they were “stunned, saddened and angered” by the deception and announced they had permanently cut ties with Gann. They have since called on the School District to hold her accountable, particularly because of concerns about the impact on students who trusted her.

The Philadelphia School District said it is aware of the situation and is making support available to students and staff at The Workshop School. The district has declined to say whether Gann will face discipline, citing personnel matters.

Gann has said that nobody in her family or activist circles knew she was misrepresenting her identity and that she takes responsibility for the deception.

DELAWARE COUNTY MAN CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN RANDOM STABBING OF 15-YEAR-OLD BOY

A Delaware County jury took about 30 minutes Thursday to convict a Clifton Heights man of first-degree murder in the 2023 stabbing death of a 15-year-old Upper Darby High School student.

Marson Weh, 39, was convicted of murdering Michael Garr, who was attacked while walking home in April 2023. Weh was also convicted of possessing an instrument of crime.

Prosecutors said Weh and Garr were complete strangers and that no motive for the killing was ever established.

Surveillance footage showed Weh following the teenager for more than a mile before attacking him near Brunswick Avenue and Bridge Street in Drexel Hill, according to prosecutors.

Garr was stabbed 11 times, including once in the throat. A passerby attempted to help him, but the teenager died before medics arrived.

Investigators quickly identified Weh through surveillance footage. Prosecutors said he was arrested carrying the folding knife used in the killing and wearing clothing stained with Garr’s blood.

Prosecutors also said Weh confessed to killing Garr during an interview with detectives. His defense argued that prosecutors had not proven the intent necessary for a first-degree murder conviction.

The jury ultimately convicted Weh of first-degree murder.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in November to life in prison.

LEVITTOWN MAN IDENTIFIED AS PEDESTRIAN KILLED IN EARLY-MORNING CRASH

The Bucks County Coroner’s Office has identified the pedestrian who was struck and killed early Tuesday morning as Scott Stewart Mann II, 43, of Levittown.

According to Bucks County Coroner Patti Campi, Mann died from blunt-force injuries sustained in the crash.

The Coroner’s Office has ruled his death accidental.

Source: Bucks County Coroner’s Office