Teen homicide suspect deemed incompetent Trucksville teen charged with stabbing three family members, killing father, deemed incompetent

WILKES-BARRE — Two experts have deemed that a teen charged with stabbing three members of a Kingston Township family — one fatally — is incompetent to stand trial on a homicide charge, resulting in a judge’s order staying the case while the boy receives mental-health treatment at a state psychiatric facility.

Zachary Lee Hockenberry, 15, of Trucksville, will remain detained at the facility “for appropriate treatment and some attempt to work on competency restoration for up to six weeks from admission,” Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough wrote in a June 22 order.

Seven days before the six-week period ends, the treating psychiatrist will provide Vough a written report summarizing Hockenberry’s treatment, competency status, prognosis and further recommendations, the judge ordered.

According to records, the order came on the heels of a competency hearing held before Vough that day via telephone conference.

Defense expert psychologist Frank M. Dattilio and prosecution expert Steven E. Samuel agreed Hockenberry is not competent to proceed to trial, leading the judge to put the case on hold during the teen’s incompetent status, the order stated.

Hockenberry, 14 at the time, is charged with stabbing David Sinoracki, 45; his wife, Bobbi Jo Sinoracki, 36; and their 17-year-old daughter, Megan Sinoracki, at their Kingston Township residence Sept. 11 in an alleged home invasion and murder that stunned the typically peaceful Back Mountain neighborhood.

David Sinoracki died of a single stab wound to the chest after coming to his wife’s defense, police said.

Hockenberry, a Dallas High School freshman who lived adjacent to the Sinoracki home, entered the Sinoracki’s residence in broad daylight and put a knife into Bobbi Jo’s back five times as she was vacuuming before he set his sights on David, who suffered the fatal wound as he tried to intervene, according to police.

Megan Sinoracki was stabbed in the chest but was treated and released from the hospital the same day, police said. Bobbi Jo Sinoracki suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Hockenberry also faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and burglary. A motive in the attack has not been disclosed.

Hockenberry’s attorney, Frank W. Nocito, and Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis did not immediately return messages seeking comment on Vough’s order.