Elizabethtown man charged in domestic incident

A Lancaster County man has been charged with aggravated assault related to a domestic incident with his wife, who was found dead at the couple’s Elizabethtown home. Christopher Alexander Mello, 39, of Elizabethtown was arrested Friday morning by Elizabethtown Borough Police.

This is the second domestic-related charge for the man in the past five months. Mello was previously charged with Terroristic Threats for a separate incident occurring at the same residence in April 2021. Those charges are pending; Mello is presumed innocent on both sets of charges.

On September 30, 2021, Elizabethtown Borough Police were dispatched to the 300 block of West High Street in Elizabethtown. The defendant’s father reported to police that he had received a call from his son who was “acting crazy” and stated something about the victim being dead.

Upon arrival at the residence, police were able to hear someone within sobbing. Officers were met by the defendant and a teenage male carrying an infant and asked them where the victim was.

The defendant indicated the victim was inside and officers found her in a second-story bathtub deceased.

Detectives on the scene requested the Lancaster County Deputy Coroner respond to the residence. After conducting a visual examination of the victim’s body, the coroner noted the body appeared to have two black eyes and a laceration on the nose without any blood emanating from it.

The defendant was taken to Northwest Regional Police Department where he was interviewed by Lancaster County Detectives who assisted with the investigation. The defendant admitted to engaging in a physical altercation with the victim including punching her about the head and face and kicking her while she was on the ground. The defendant also stated he physically assaulted her the night prior.

"This case is a stark reminder of the existence of domestic violence and the grave consequences that can result," District Attorney Heather Adams said. Today marks the first day of a month-long campaign for Domestic Violence Awareness Month focused on gaining awareness of the effects of abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Domestic Violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or the Domestic Violence Services' 24-hour hotline at 717-299-1249.
 

Defendant was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Randall L. Miller and denied bail due to the nature of the charges and ongoing investigation of the incident. 

Elizabethtown Borough Police and Lancaster County Detectives continue to probe the matter. An autopsy will be performed by the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office.

Charges were approved by First Assistant District Attorney Todd Brown and filed by Elizabethtown Borough Police officer Edward Wengiel.