Kevin Patrick Eckenrode, 25, who moved recently from Scranton into downtown Harrisburg's Pennsylvania Place apartments, said Rachel M. Kozlusky, 23, of Saylorsburg, Monroe County, told him that she wanted to sit on the ledge of his window, according to Harrisburg Detective Donald Heffner.

Eckenrode told police he helped Kozlusky remove the window screen, then saw her sit on the ledge, Heffner wrote.

Kozlusky, a 2005 graduate of Marywood University in Scranton, then told Eckenrode that she wanted to see if she could touch her feet to the apartment below, according to court papers.

Heffner wrote: "She attempted this on her own. She was unsuccessful. She asked him to assist her in doing this. He grabbed under the armpits from behind with his hands and lowered her to the window below. During this time she slipped out of his hands and fell to her death."

According to papers filed by Heffner, Eckenrode volunteered to speak with police after being told he was not under arrest. After making his statement, Eckenrode was read his Miranda rights and agreed to continue, but he asked for a lawyer minutes later, the report stated.

Heffner's report was filed in conjunction with a request for a search warrant for Eckenrode's apartment.

Court papers describe an apartment strewn with empty beer cans, wine bottles, clothing and bedding.

Kozlusky's body, clad in underwear and a sweater, was found in front of the building shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday.

Police said her body struck and broke a plastic glass skylight in the building's portico before falling to the pavement in front of the entrance to the main lobby. She was declared dead at the scene from trauma.

"The family's deeply saddened by the tragic loss of their daughter and hope everyone respects their privacy at this difficult time," Kozlusky's uncle, Gary Kozlusky of Alexandria, Va., said yesterday.

Eckenrode originally told police that Kozlusky wanted to sit on the windowsill and slipped as he tried to stop her from falling. In a later statement, he told police that they were fooling around and he was dangling her out the window by her wrists when he lost his grip, according to District Attorney Edward M. Marsico Jr.

Marsico said the window was about 4 feet high and wide enough for someone to sit in. He said the screen had been removed. Marsico said the two had been drinking Friday and Saturday.

Eckenrode, originally of Scranton, moved to Harrisburg about a month ago to take a $33,000-a-year position as an aide in the press office of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. He was suspended without pay Sunday.

"The preliminary indications are that this was an accident, at least that it was not an intentional killing," said Eckenrode's lawyer, William Costopoulos.

"He did not throw that girl out the window. The public statements from the mayor's office and the police indicate that there was heavy drinking involved, which I believe. Both the commonwealth and the defense are trying to ascertain why and how this tragedy occurred," Costopoulos said.

Costopoulos said he will file for bail before a common pleas judge, probably before the end of the week. A preliminary hearing before a district judge has not yet been scheduled.

"This is a tragedy for both families," Costopoulos said. "It was a horrible death, and I can tell you that Kevin Eckenrode is distraught as we speak."

Eckenrode was being held at the Dauphin County Prison without bail.

Eckenrode also was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia for what King said was a marijuana pipe.

Eckenrode is at least the third board employee to face criminal charges in the past seven months. One board lawyer was charged in November with simple assault and public intoxication after a late-night fight in a downtown bar and restaurant, and another pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and public drunkenness after an August incident.

Submitted on 02/28/2006

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: Harrisburg, PA, Patriot News

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
A MUCH better and more detailed account of the woman's final act. Apparently, she WAS a willing participant, and her boyfriend enabled her. Darwin oughtta see this! :-)

Jorge said:
Definitely Toss: Repeat

Sheryl said:
Neutral: For Darwin's Eyes
Yes, Darwin needs to see this one. Of course, she's dead, so all the information is technically heresay on the part of the boyfriend.

Charles said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
As Sheryl says. However, this makes it at least possible that it was a Darwin, whle the earlier story would have left things rather in doubt.

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