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Minister's Home Burglarized On Christmas Eve

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A local minister's home was robbed while he led a Christmas Eve service Monday and the suspect is a member of his own family.

Pastor Michael Guthrie of Ross Township's niece Jessica Herth and her boyfriend are accused of burglarizing his house.

"Jessica Herth, it's your uncle Mike," Guthrie said. "Don't run. Stop so we can help you."

On Christmas Eve night, Guthrie was presiding over a three-hour Christmas carols and candles service at his church.

When he came home, he discovered that someone broke in through the basement door.

He says the burglars took a laptop and other possessions that belonged to his late son, including a gun.

"A .9mm Smith and Wesson model 59 that we used to target shoot with," Guthrie said. "So our concern is about that gun that they have, so they're armed and dangerous."

Guthrie suspected that his niece and her boyfriend Jeremaih Kelley were responsible for the burglary because of their known drug addiction .

His suspicions were confirmed when he went to Kelly's home with a police officer.

"We went there, we were talking to the mother at the door and she was delaying, not letting us in," Guthrie said. "Next thing you know, the garage door opened up and out my Niece Jessica Herth and Jeremaih ran with bags over their shoulders carrying the stuff they hauled out of our house, including my son's things."

Ross Township Police are looking for Herth and Kelly. Anyone with information is asked to give them a call.

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