The "Someone Is Still Hiding Something! What Is It?" Story

Jonathan Luna

It was an ordinary day.  Opened Safari and before long I had a very familiar young man looking back at me.  Took maybe another 30 seconds before I realized the face belonged to someone who was allegedly murdered in Lancaster County on December 5 of 2003.  Jonathan Luna grew up in the projects of New York City and always dreamed of graduating from college one day and making his family proud.  His father operated a restaurant and his mom was a housewife.  Jonathan was a bit different in that he didn't fit the mold of tough guy in the neighborhood.  He excelled in school and graduated from Fordham University in 1987 and enrolled in the University of North Carolina Law School.  His friends described him as "selfless, engaging, charismatic and a gentle soul."  After graduating, he began working as a federal clerk with a U.S. District Judge.  It was there that he met his wife Angela.  They eventually settled down in Elkridge, Maryland where they had two sons.  

Hard working lawyer.

Mr. Luna got a job working as an Assistant United States Attorney.  He dedicated most of his time protecting children from sexual predators. December 4th, 2003 started just like most other days for him.  He kissed his family goodbye and headed to work.  At the time he was working a case involving two men who were accused of dealing heroin from their music label studio.  One of the men was also facing a murder charge.  He spent his entire day working the case and at 9:00 PM he called a co-worker saying he was ready to go home and would see him tomorrow.  They were going to offer the two men a plea deal and he would work on it at home throughout the night so it was ready by morning.  But, he didn't clock out until 11:38 PM that evening.  It was said he must have left in a rush since he forgot his phone and glasses.  At 1:00 AM his car entered Delaware where he made a stop for money at an ATM.  He then crossed into New Jersey and on to Pennsylvania at about 4:00 AM where he used his credit card at a Sunoco Station.  He made his way into Delaware and finally stopped his car in nearby Denver, Pennsylvania, about 20 miles from my home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  At 5:30 AM the sun was just rising when a worker at Sensenig & Weaver arrived to start his shift.  He saw Jonathan's car nearby and thinking it might be a drunk driver, investigated.  There was blood everywhere!  Smeared over the door and front fender.  A large puddle on the back seat and footwell.  Money and cell phone equipment had been scattered inside the car.  Luna had sustained 36 stab wounds with his own penknife.  A Lancaster County pathologist said his hands had been "shredded" and his scrotum and throat had both been slashed.  He was said to have drowned to death in the creek that ran next to the property. 

The crime scene in Lancaster County, PA

At 8:05 AM, the Lancaster County coroner pronounced Luna dead from stab wounds and drowning.  He ruled it a homicide, and rightfully so.  Federal Authorities later changed the ruling to suicide.  But, how could that be true, since he had several stab wounds over his back and defensive wounds on his hands and arms as if attempting to ward off an attacker.  But, the doctor didn't have the last say and his death was ruled a suicide.  The Baltimore Sun Newspaper implied that Luna was involved in a robbery case in which $36,000 went missing and committed suicide because he was afraid that he was going to lose his job.  By 2006 the reward for information on the case was up to $100,000.   Stories were circulating that since Mr. Luna had dark skin, everything was being swept under the carpet.  

Jonathan Luna's gravestone.

Some facts were hard to understand though; how could he have driven all that distance without his glasses; why did he leave his cell phone behind; why would he stab himself 36 times as well as slash his scrotum, throat and hands; and how did he stab himself in the back?  Suicide by stabbing is very rare, but has happened.  Some still believe he committed suicide, but I'm not one of them.  The Lancaster Newspaper recently searched for the files on Jonathan Luna and found that they do exist in the county archives anymore. It was thought that the FBI must have taken the files.  But, they were recently found in the archives of the Lancaster County Courthouse.  But, before the local Lancaster newspaper had the chance to view them, the President Judge in Lancaster ordered the case sealed.  In Pennsylvania there is a "Right to Know Law and Coroner's Act."  The newspaper wanted the files!  Why does his death have to be kept a secret?  What really was swept under the carpet years ago?  It's time to find out.  It was another day in the life of an ordinary guy.

PS - The LNP Newspaper updated the story a few days ago by saying the District Attorney had 20 days to make its case or the records would be made public.  The newspaper wanted the records made public so they can put the story in the newspaper in hopes of selling more papers and possibly solving the case while the DA wanted the records private so it doesn't hinder the investigation into the 2003 murder.  After 17 years of no action, does the DA really think the case could be hindered?  It is now a known fact that the Coroner's files are in the Lancaster County Courthouse basement.  Why can't we know what is in them?  And, how did Jonathan Luna really die?  Someone is still hiding something!  What is it?

PPS - Two days ago the local judge ruled the files would remain sealed.  What's next?  Someone is still hiding something!  What is it?