ORWIGSBURG - The Schuylkill Haven man charged with trying to kill two people in March in Auburn will not face a judge until next month, as his preliminary hearing has been continued.
Matthew J. Miske, 21, who had been scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier on Wednesday, instead will have his preliminary hearing at 11:15 a.m. May 15.
Ferrier said Wednesday that he had continued the hearing at the request of the county Office of the Public Defender, which represents Miske.
State police at Schuylkill Haven have charged Miske with two counts each of attempted homicide and simple assault, four each of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person and one of burglary in connection with the incident, which they allege occurred in the early morning hours of March 14.
Miske broke into 104 Market St., Apt. 3, about 4:05 a.m. and used a box cutter-type knife to stab and slash Alberto Rodriguez-Ramirez, 21, of Schuylkill Haven, in the chest, and a 17-year-old girl, who was not identified, in the throat, police said.
Police said Miske, whom the girl identified as her ex-boyfriend, then cut himself in the throat.
Rodriguez-Ramirez and the girl were flown by helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown area, with life-threatening injuries, while Miske was flown by helicopter to Reading Hospital and Medical Center, West Reading, according to police.
Rodriguez-Ramirez suffered laceration wounds to his chest, a collapsed right lung and a defensive wound to his left hand, and the girl suffered large lacerations to her right hand and the left side of her neck, according to police.
Police took Miske directly from the hospital to the county prison, where he remains in lieu of the $1 million bail set March 15 by Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua. Defendant: Matthew J. Miske
Age: 21
Residence: Schuylkill Haven
Charges: Two counts each of attempted homicide and simple assault, four each of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person and one of burglary