Three East Stroudsburg residents sentenced in 2017 murder

December 21, 2021

Israel Berrios


Carolina Carmona


Salvadore Roberts

On December 11, 2017, at approximately 1:00 AM, on Normal Street in the Borough of East Stroudsburg, 58 year old Richard LaBar was murdered while in the process of delivering an order of Domino’s Pizza.

LaBar was working extra to try to make money for the coming holidays. The pizza order was a set up. Carolina Carmona, age 30, called in the order. She waited in front of the door of the ROTC building just off campus at East Stroudsburg University. The building looked like any other private residence on the street.

In the bushes nearby lurked 17-year-old Israel Berrios, Carmona‘s boyfriend. Berrios was armed with a 410 gauge sawed-off shotgun.

Two blocks away, on Marguerite Street, 21-year-old Salvador Roberts waited in a Mercedes. He was the wheel man of the group.

As Mr. LaBar approached with the pizza order he tried to confirm that Miss Carmona was the person who ordered the pizza. At that time Mr. Berrios came with the gun leveled and demanded money. Mr. LaBar struggled and was knocked to the ground. Mr. Berrios shot him point-blank in the face. As Mr. LaBar lay on his back struggling to breathe Carmona and Berrios went through his pockets and took all the money they could. They ran to Roberts’ vehicle and he drove them away.

Richard LaBar was pronounced dead later that day at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

“What these three did was utterly disgusting. The case impacted the community significantly. People still talk about it.”, said Michael Mancuso First Assistant District Attorney who prosecuted the case.

Yesterday the three killers faced justice in the form of a sentencing proceeding before Judge Jon Mark. Mancuso described the process: “ It was a very intense proceeding. Each defendant was given a chance to speak not only to the court but also to the family members of the victim. Carmona had nothing to say. Although her parents spoke on her behalf. Roberts apologized to the family and said that he had learned a lot since his arrest. Berrios, now 21, quoted scripture and vowed he would be a great man someday.” Mancuso continued: “Judge Mark did an excellent job laying out all of the current cases from the United States Supreme Court through to the Pennsylvania courts. The judge recognized that the law required carefully balancing many factors before imposing sentence on Berrios, who was a juvenile at the time of the murder.”

In the end, Mr. Berrios was sentenced to state prison for not less than 60 1/2 years to life for his guilty plea to second-degree murder. He will be eligible for parole on his 77th birthday.

His lover, Carolina Carmona, was sentenced to 29 1/2 to 60 years in prison for her guilty plea to third-degree murder and robbery. She will be eligible for parole on her 70th birthday.

Salvador Roberts was sentenced to 25 to 60 years in prison for his guilty plea to third-degree murder and robbery. He will be eligible for parole when he turns 51 years old.

Mr. Mancuso spoke to the victim’s family after the sentencing.  “I told the LaBar family that nothing that happened today could bring their loved one back but maybe this helps bring them a step nearer to closure.“

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