PA Police Call Mennonite Home Invasion a Hate Crime

Central Pennsylvania police are labeling a weekend home invasion that sent three elderly women to the hospital as a hate crime.  The victims are all Mennonite, a faith that shares a heritage with the Amish, but who are more mainstream, not shunning modern conveniences.

FOX News Radio’s Chris Hoenig has the story:

Authorities say 22-year-old Derek Holt posed as an insurance salesman before forcing his way into a Lancaster home and brutally attacking three women.

(Steffen) “Their hands and feet were taped, the house was then ransacked by the individual.”

The victims, sisters between the ages of 84 and 90, are all Mennonite.  Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Chief David Steffen says Holt targeted them because of that, reading passages from the Bible before destroying the one in the home.

Holt faces charges including assault, ethnic intimidation and robbery.  His bail set at $1 million.

Chris Hoenig, FOX News Radio.

CLICK HERE for more on this story from FOX43.com in central PA.