The man police have been searching for since Friday’s double homicide in the Town of Binghamton is now in custody.
39-year-old Aaron Powell, was in court Tuesday night, pleading not guilty to two murder charges. After four days of hiding from police Powell was escorted into the Town of Binghamton Courthouse with his head hanging low. Police believe that over the past several days, Powell has been in and around the Springville, and Montrose, Pennsylvania area. He was identified as the main person of interest in connection with Friday’s double homicide in the Town of Binghamton after the body of his wife, 35-year-old Christina Powell, was found.
On Friday morning, Broome County Sheriff’s received a phone call from friends of Christina’s, asking police to check her welfare at 4185 Lisi Lane. Once inside, police found the bodies of Christina Powell and her friend, 24-year-old Mario Masciarelli, and shortly after, they began searching for Christina’s estranged husband, Aaron Powell. Tips came in from all over New York State and Pennsylvania.
Broome County Sheriff David Harder says 176 leads were logged and looked into, leading them to Montrose. They got their break Tuesday morning shortly after 9 o’clock, when Powell contacted a family member and close personal friend by telephone. The phone call traced back to a location. Authorities in Pennsylvania were notified and a probation officer did spot the person of interest in Montrose.
Police also located the 2007 black GMC Yukon Denali that Powell was driving in a remote area outside of Montrose. It was towed to Pennsylvania State Police Gibson Barracks with the hope of finding more evidence and answers. Investigators say Christina’s death was caused by strangulation, while Masciarelli’s death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head. Autopsy results confirmed each death was a homicide. Investigators are still trying to gather details about Powell’s whereabouts and actions over the last 4 days.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s department at (607) 778-1911.
