The Morning Call

Lehigh County dad who fled with girl to Mexico guilty in sex crime case, faces up to 87 years in prison

In a decisively quick verdict, a Lehigh County jury on Thursday found Kevin Esterly guilty of sexually assaulting a young girl over several years, starting when she was about 12 years old.

Kevin Esterly, 52, who made national headlines in 201 when he flew to Mexico with a teen, now faces charges alleging he raped a girl at his home. (Courtesy Miami-Dade County Corrections Department)

Dominae Jones and Ebony Gaines of Concentra Health Services draw blood from Allentown Firefighter, Kevin Cannon after the City of Allentown holds a press conference Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the Allentown Fire Academy on Lehigh Street in Allentown, to announce the launch of the Galleri multi-cancer early detection screening program for Allentown firefighters. The program is provided at no cost to the City through a partnership with Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health and was secured through negotiations with Local 302. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Cancer is a leading cause of death for firefighters. Allentown introduces a test to help protect them.

Dave Kurisco was a record-breaking running back at Dieruff and a key member of their undefeated team in 1979. He runs for a big gain against Phillipsburg in this 1979 game at J. Birney Crum Stadium. (Morning Call File Photo)

Lehigh Valley football: One of Dieruff’s all-time greats has died at age 64

Upper Macungie police are searching for the driver of this vehicle. Investigators believe the driver witnessed a fatal crash that happened Feb. 19 on Route 100.
Photo courtesy of Upper Macungie police.

Police looking for person who may have witnessed fatal Route 100 crash

Gas prices are on display Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at a Wawa on Easton Avenue in Bethlehem. Gas prices are rising during the conflict between U.S., Israel and Iran. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Gas prices spike in Lehigh Valley amid Iran war. How high could they go?

Latest Headlines

Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Noem after mounting criticism over her leadership

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Sinkhole forces closure of road in Northampton County

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Lehigh Valley man convicted of voter fraud in 2020 election

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Lehigh Carbon Community College remains closed amid IT outage [Updated]

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Poll: Immigration crackdown divides Pennsylvanians

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ICE reforms, Iran attack, data centers: Ryan Mackenzie fields constituent questions in telephone town hall

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Former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, convicted in corruption case, says he’ll be released from prison this summer

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Local News

Natalie Salvador, modeling for Jolley Beauty Co., poses at the first Lehigh Valley Hair Showcase on March 30, 2025, at Wind Creek Bethlehem. (Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Smarr)

See the best styles, support Boys & Girls Club with Lehigh Valley Hair Showcase

The second annual Lehigh Valley Hair Showcase will highlight local stylist talent and support the Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem.

Sports

Saucon Valley’s Carter Chunko, top, registered a technical fall over St. Marys’ Jayce Walter at 127 pounds in Class 2A at the PIAA Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey on Thursday, March 5, 2026. (Nate Heckenberger photo)

PIAA Wrestling Championships: For Luke Fugazzotto and Carter Chunko, it was survive, advance in Class 2A

Faith Christian advanced eight to the quarterfinals.

Things to Do

Rod Stewart performs Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, at the PPL Center in Allentown. (Chris Knight/Special to The Morning Call)

From Rod Stewart to Sebastian Bach, here are the top acts performing in the Lehigh Valley in March

There's something for everyone this month in the Lehigh Valley.

Lehigh Valley Top Workplaces 2026 Awards Banquet | PHOTOS

Did you make our gallery? See photos from the Lehigh Valley Top Workplaces 2026 awards ceremony and banquet at SteelStacks.
Purim Celebration | PHOTOS
Major winter storm dumps more snow on Lehigh Valley | PHOTOS
The calm before the snow as winter storm hits Lehigh Valley | PHOTOS
Dieruff High School students walkout to protest ICE | PHOTOS
Ash Wednesday at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena | PHOTOS
Northwestern Lehigh wins boys basketball Colonial League championship | PHOTOS

Opinion

Quakertown Police Department (Bucks County Courier Times)

Opinion: I represent one of the Quakertown students arrested during anti-ICE protest. Justice isn’t being served.

Opinion: Other injustices assaulted these children as well, beyond the behavior of the chief. The...

Crime and Public Safety

Hanover Elementary School exterior shot June 8, 2019. (Kristen Harrison/The Morning Call)

Bethlehem police and firefighters rescue missing girl near Lehigh River

Bethlehem police and firefighters rescued a missing girl Tuesday night near the Lehigh River, according...

Best Reviews

Sunrise alarm clock review: Does this gentle method for waking up actually leave you feeling more re

We put the Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock to the test to see...

Business

Elon Musk, center, arrives for a Twitter shareholder trial at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Elon Musk defends tweets in lawsuit alleging they caused Twitter stock to fall before acquisition

The case revolves around allegations that Musk violated federal securities laws.

Pennsylvania News

Representatives from Point and a home equity loan industry trade group testify in Harrisburg. (Stephen Caruso / Spotlight PA)

A Silicon Valley firm offered gift cards as part of a campaign to defeat Pa. regulation. Lawmakers say that’s unethical.

A home financing firm offered its customers Amazon gift cards if they submitted testimony to...

National News

FILE – Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Capitol rioter who was pardoned by Trump gets a life sentence for molesting 2 children in Florida

He's among several Jan. 6 defendants who've been charged with new crimes.

Allentown

State grant for LVHN will help develop allied health program for Allentown students

Students from Allentown's Bridgeview Academy of Health, Science, Innovation and Technology are set to benefit...

Bethlehem Area

Coroner seeks family of Bethlehem man who died recently

The Lehigh County Coroner is seeking the next-of-kin of a Bethlehem man who died recently.

Breaking News

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PROMOTIONS & SPECIALS

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Former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, convicted in corruption case, says he’ll be released from prison this summer

Massive Northampton County development project at center of legal dispute

Bethlehem police and firefighters rescue missing girl near Lehigh River

Predicting how each weight class will shake out at the PIAA Wrestling Championships

Lehigh Carbon Community College remains closed amid IT outage [Updated]

Coroner seeks family of Bethlehem man who died recently

Police looking for person who may have witnessed fatal Route 100 crash

New Hobby Lobby store coming to the Lehigh Valley

Opinion: I represent one of the Quakertown students arrested during anti-ICE protest. Justice isn’t being served.

Grammy award-winning rapper to headline Musikfest

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