DA Peck takes over Cassandra Gross case, says missing Unity woman 'has not been forgotten'

Kathe Gross sat on a bench outside the Westmoreland County Courthouse surrounded by friends and family, as passing cars honked in support.

Despite the outpouring of support from her closest relatives, she couldn’t help but be painfully reminded of the one family member who was missing — her only daughter, Cassandra Gross.

On April 7, 2018, Cassandra disappeared. Days later, her car was found burned by the railroad tracks. Although her body has not been recovered, her death was ruled a homicide.

Investigators have focused their searches on two properties belonging to Thomas G. Stanko, 50, of Unity, who has been jailed for three years on unrelated state and federal charges. State police have said Stanko, who at one time dated Gross, is a prime suspect in the disappearance. He has repeatedly maintained his innocence.

Now, three years later, Cassandra’s family is still searching for justice. And time is running out. Kathe has been battling cancer for two years. She wants this case resolved before it’s too late.

“I will do everything humanly possible to get this settled,” she said.

District Attorney John Peck says that the case has been delayed because of turnover in his office. The prosecutor who was handling the case left within the past year, forcing Peck to take over.

“I’m making a very careful and thorough review of the record,” he said.

The case also has been slowed by the fact that Stanko is in federal custody on gun charges, Peck said, asserting that his office cannot proceed with homicide charges until Stanko is in custody in Westmoreland County.

Peck said he has spoken to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh and they are in talks to “have (Stanko) released from federal custody,” so the homicide case can ensue. Peck also said that even if homicide charges were filed against Stanko tomorrow, the trial process could drag out for another year or more.

“It’s not going to be resolved quickly,” Peck said.

Kathe Gross is upset by the lagging speed of the process and cannot help but question why it has been stalled.

“If this were Peck’s daughter, it would have been over and done with by now,” she said.

Despite her frustration, Peck assured that this case is a priority for him and his office.

“Cassandra Gross has not been forgotten in any way, shape or form,” Peck said.

Despite her constant vigilance in finding answers about her daughter’s disappearance, even as her own health declines at age 72, Kathe Gross has all but lost faith in the powers that be.

“There is no justice in the justice system,” she said. “It’s all politics, and it’s a game.”

The rally outside the county courthouse in Greensburg on Wednesday was the second in recent months. Kathe Gross said she is unsure what her next steps will be in lobbying the district attorney’s office if a trial date is not set soon, but she is determined to ensure Stanko stands trial for her daughter’s murder.

“I was always told, ‘The squeaky wheel gets the oil,’” Kathe said. “I’ll keep on squeaking.”