Pa. man found guilty of security officer’ murder
READING, Pa. Feb 23 2026 – A man has been found guilty on all charges for the murder of a security guard in New Morgan Borough back in 2022.
The verdict came following hours of detailed testimony, including details about a call to his wife from prison, asking her to get rid of a gun. Authorities say prior to this, the suspect already had a long list of crimes under his belt.
The sounds of whimpers and heavy breaths, signaling a slight sense of relief, were heard in the courtroom as the jury ruled out a guilty verdict for 37-year-old David Hartsook.
“I’m glad he’s guilty. He can’t hurt nobody else, but my son is still not coming home. It doesn’t give me peace,” said Cathy Lightcap, the mother of Troy Rickenbach, the security guard shot and killed by Hartsook in August of 2022.
Hartsook sat with an empty stare, as the jury read out “first-degree murder.”
“He has no compassion. He don’t care,” said Tonya Yambo, Rickenbach’s sister.
Family members of Rickenbach held each other tight.
“It feels like it’s been a long-going process, and I’m finally glad that we did get justice,” Yambo said.
Rickenbach’s twin brother remembered the tragic day their lives forever changed.
As of 7:24 p.m. Thursday, Hartsook was found guilty of all charges, including first degree murder.
“Felt like half of me was gone. It really was, and it feels no different. I still feel empty inside. It was a short victory today,” said Jason Rickenbach, Troy’s brother.
Troy leaves behind children, one who recently asked grandma who would take her to the daddy-daughter dance at school.
“It hurts them. They were very close. Their dad is a very good father. He was hands-on with his children. They were very young. So it hurts. It hurts when I see them because I know he should be here with them,” Lightcap said.
But gone does not mean forgotten.
“We constantly talk about him. Tell stories and keep him always, constantly in their mind,” Yambo said. “That’s how we keep him alive. I’ll never stop talking about him.”
His twin says he’s going to live in a way that shows the kids the strength and love their father carried.
“I feel like I need to be bigger and better for them,” Jason Rickenbach said.
Because nothing is stronger than a family’s love and unwavering commitment to one another, Troy’s mother continues to share her message with other families facing unimaginable loss.
“Just don’t ever give up. Try to get justice. Just keep going. Don’t give up,” Lightcap said.
Sentencing for Hartsook is scheduled for March 23.
