TRIAL DATE SET FOR THOMAS STANKO

A trial date has been set for a Unity man charged with killing his girlfriend over seven years ago.  The Trib reports that Thomas Stanko faces charges in connection with the disappearance of Cassandra Gross.  She was last seen in April of 2018 and declared dead a year after she was reported missing.  In 2022, the charges were filed against Stanko, who was a person of interest almost immediately after she was reported missing.  According to court records, police allege Stanko killed Gross and then burned her remains. Investigators found a burn barrel on Stanko’s property that contained charred remains determined to be pieces of Gross’ eyeglasses, clothing and the tip of an insulin pencil she likely used to care for her dog.