Officials: Cause of deaths to be known in few weeks

Some bodily fluids still have to undergo tests, a coroner says.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA STAFF
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Investigators say it will be a few more weeks before they can say how two women found in Taylor Township died.
"We want to run some more tests on some fluids based on things they've learned in the investigation," said Lawrence County Coroner Russell S. Noga.
Noga met Monday with the forensic pathologist Dr. Karl Williams, Lawrence County District Attorney Matthew Mangino and Pennsylvania State Police to talk about the deaths of Mandy Sue McLaren, 24, and Tammie Mullins, 36.
The women were found Aug. 28 in a wooded area off Pa. Route 168 in Taylor Township, just outside New Castle. Authorities have said Mullins was dead for nearly four weeks and McLaren had been dead less than a week when found.
Police have called the deaths homicides. Authorities say they believe the women traveled in dangerous circles when they worked as prostitutes and were known to frequent the Big Run public housing project in New Castle.
Possible clues
Mangino said tips about the women's deaths come in daily, some of which he has received personally.
A $2,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
Mullins was reported missing Aug. 5 by her husband, Jeffrey, and police believe McLaren went missing the week she was found dead.
McLaren spent time in jail after pleading guilty to third-degree murder in the starvation death of her 8-month-old son, James. He died of severe malnourishment in April 1998. She was also facing theft charges at the time of her death.
Mullins was also facing theft and forgery charges when she died.
cioffi@vindy.com