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Accused killer captured

Accused killer Michael D. Marchalk has been caught on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

State police said Marchalk was caught Friday morning, and is jailed awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.Marchalk was found at 11:45 a.m. in the 1600 block of the boardwalk and arrested by Sgt. John Waddell and officers Armani Rex, Kerry Dunbar, Alim Adams and Camren Johnson of the Tourism District Unit, Atlantic City police said.They said Marchalk had previously made statements that he was not going to be arrested and would attempt "suicide by cop."He was arrested without incident and remanded to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.Marchalk, 37, was being sought in the Father's Day beating death of his father, Gary D. Marchalk, of Barnesville.Gary Marchalk was a defense lawyer with offices in Tamaqua and Frackville.Michael Marchalk is believed to have beaten his father to death late Sunday after months of death threats.He then fled in his father's car, and was last seen early Monday at a Greyhound bus terminal in Philadelphia.His capture followed a "thorough investigation" by the Troop L Major Case Team, based at the Reading barracks, trooper Joseph W. Hall wrote in a press release.Marchalk had failed to show up Monday at a drug-treatment program as planned.Marchalk is charged with criminal homicide, murder of the first degree, murder of the second degree, murder of the third degree, voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, robbery, theft, theft of a motor vehicle, access device fraud, and recklessly endangering another person.CaptureAttorney General Josh Shapiro had called for an all-out search for Marchalk.He was apprehended by Atlantic City Police after they encountered him on Martin Luther King Boulevard and the Boardwalk.He was taken into custody and is being held at the Atlantic County Justice Facility, pending further proceedings."Thanks to strong law enforcement cooperation and smart police work by the Pennsylvania State Police, Atlantic City Police, New Jersey State Police and New Jersey Transit, we were able to locate and arrest a dangerous killer who fled to another state to avoid prosecution for murder," Shapiro said. "Our prosecutors worked closely with law enforcement all week, and today this fugitive is off the streets."911 callGary Marchalk's younger son, Matthew D. Marchalk, 33, called Schuylkill County 911 at 11:47 a.m. Monday, saying his father appeared to be dead.State police rushed to the house, at 21 Pear St., where they found Marchalk's battered body in an upstairs bedroom, lying face-down, the walls, ceiling, and door spattered with blood, and the bloody bat at his feet.His wallet was gone, as was his gold 2015 Ford Fusion."My brother did this. I know it," Matthew Marchalk told police.He said his brother has a drug problem, including heroin addiction, and had been using recently.Michael had been making threats to kill Gary Marchalk and the family, Matthew Marchalk said.Police spoke with Gary Marchalk's wife, Schuylkill County Treasurer Linda Marchalk, who told them she had moved out of the home several weeks ago. Gary Marchalk had filed for divorce on May 11. The couple wed in 2007; Matthew and Michael were born to Gary and his first wife, the late Mary Ann Marchalk.Linda Marchalk told police Michael has for years had a drug problem, and had moved in with his father the week before.Linda Marchalk had gotten an email from Gary Marchalk on June 16, saying Michael had an appointment at 9 a.m. Monday to enter drug treatment at a Pottsville hospital."Just one more (expletive) issue for me to deal with, but I guess at least I am making some progress, however slight it might be," Gary Marchalk's message said.Video footageA home video camera recorded Michael Marchalk returning to the house, where he had been living for the past week, at 10:44 p.m. that night in his father's truck.The camera later recorded Michael Marchalk backing the Ford Fusion out of the garage, parking it, and going back inside the house.A neighbor's video camera recorded a car leaving the Marchalk's house at 10:52 p.m.The Marchalks' home security cameras show no one else entering the home on Sunday other than Michael Marchalk, and no activity at all after he left.Security video cameras and credit card activity trailed Michael Marchalk to the Philadelphia bus terminal.Michael Marchalk has a long criminal history, including robbery.It is not known when Marchalk will be extradited to Pennsylvania.

Marchalk