The holiday season took a heartbreaking turn in South Blooming Grove this week as a domestic dispute ended in the death of a local woman. Tanzanica Dickerson, 45, was found unresponsive in her home on Heights Trail just days before Christmas. The discovery has shaken the quiet Orange County neighborhood, leaving family and neighbors searching for answers in the wake of such a sudden loss.
State police rushed to the scene late Monday afternoon, around 4:40 p.m., after receiving a call about an unconscious woman with a gunshot wound. When troopers arrived at the residence, they found Dickerson suffering from severe injuries. Despite the quick response from emergency workers and the efforts of doctors at Garnet Health Medical Center, she unfortunately passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Investigators quickly turned their attention to 44-year-old Joseph M. Pennyfeather III, who lived in the home with Dickerson. According to officials, what started as a verbal argument between the two quickly turned physical. The preliminary investigation suggests that the situation escalated violently, leading to the fatal encounter that has now left a community in mourning.
An autopsy later confirmed the grim details of the struggle. The Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office found that Dickerson died from a gunshot wound but also noted signs of blunt force trauma. Because of these findings, the case was officially ruled a homicide, confirming the suspicions of the investigators who spent hours scouring the home for evidence.
Pennyfeather was taken into custody right at the scene without further incident. He was later brought before a judge in the City of Middletown Court, where he faced serious charges, including second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. The legal proceedings are just beginning, but the gravity of the charges reflects the violent nature of the afternoon’s events.
The judge ordered Pennyfeather to be held without bail, and he is currently being housed at the Orange County Jail. He is expected to appear in the Town of Blooming Grove Court on the morning of December 29. As the legal process moves forward, state police units, including the Major Crimes and Forensic Investigation Units, are continuing to piece together the exact timeline of what happened inside that home.
For those who knew Dickerson, the news is a devastating reminder of how quickly domestic situations can turn fatal. Friends and family are now left to navigate the holidays while dealing with a void that can never be filled. Authorities are still asking anyone with extra information to come forward as they finalize their report on this tragic case.
The post South Blooming Grove Tragedy: Joseph Pennyfeather III Held After Fatal Dispute Claims Life of Tanzanica Dickerson appeared first on Tripplenews.
