Police were investigating the apparent murder of two people at 224 Lemon Lane, Leola, Saturday and seeking information about a man believed to have been an occupant of the house.

The victims were identified by East Lampeter Township police as Mona Jean Hess, 56, and her daughter, Makenzie Lauren Hess, 22.

Investigators are seeking information about Gary Charles Gerlach, 22, "so they can account for his well-being," according to a press release.

Gerlach's whereabouts were unknown late Saturday and he may be driving a blue 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Pennsylvania license EVL-1083, police said.

Investigators are also trying to locate a gray 1996 Acura TL, Pennsylvania license HYG-7503.

Police did not say Saturday night how the women died.

Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni said Saturday night that autopsies will be performed Monday morning.

Police were dispatched to the scene at 1:25 p.m.

Beth Hostetter, a neighbor, said she first learned something wrong when Hess' older daughter, Kara Hess, ran down the street.

The daughter was "hysterical," Hostetter said.

Hostetter added that initially, "police were coming from all directions. Police were running around the house."

Sulmarie Santana, who lives across the street from the Hess home on Lemon Lane, said she and her family members heard what she described as a clanging or banging noise, as when a truck rattles a Dumpster, at about 3 a.m. Saturday.

"I peeked out the window and I didn't see anything," Santana said.

"I can't believe it," Santana said, of the deaths.

According to Mona Hess' Facebook page, she was clearly proud of her daughters, who are shown in one photo smiling side by side under a caption proclaiming "My Girls!"

A Christmas 2011 photo on the same page shows Gerlach hugging Makenzie Hess with a comment from Mona Hess reading "This is my daughter and 'adopted son', Gary! God sent him to us!"

The Hess home is in a neighborhood that locals call "the fruit bowl," according to Leola resident Harriet Boehm, because its streets are named for fruits.

Lemon Lane, which connects a loop of Raspberry Road near Route 23, was closed to traffic by fire police.

The front yard of the Hess' gray-sided, dark-hue-shuttered duplex was cordoned off by yellow police tape.

A police canopy had been erected on the street and investigators walked in and out wearing gloves and had booties over their shoes.

Word of the deaths spread quickly through the neighborhood. On Saturday afternoon, area residents walked or drove by, craning to see the house from Raspberry Road.

"It's shocking. You live in a neighborhood like this because stuff like this doesn't happen in a neighborhood like this," said Brett Hower, who just graduated from Conestoga Valley High School.

The Rev. Kevin Eshleman, executive pastor of Ephrata Community Church, said that Mona and Makenzie Hess regularly attended services there.

"I would describe Mona as a very gentle person," Eshleman said. "I felt like she always wanted to do the right thing ... make the best of any situation she was in."

Her faith was important to her, he said, noting of Mona Hess, "She wanted to honor the Lord with her life, and do what was right, to the best of her ability."

He said the church's congregation would be ready to support those grieving the deaths of the Hess women.

 "These things are always a shock, and they always leave people questioning — sometimes significant questions you just can't answer," Eshleman said, adding, "You just need to trust in God."

Mona Hess was described by neighbors as a friendly woman, who walked her little white dog, Claire, around the neighborhood every morning and evening.

"She always said 'hi,' " and she always picked up after her dog, Hostetter said.

Hostetter said Mona Hess "loved her dog."

According to her Facebook page, Mona Hess was from Belleville, studied business at Eastern Mennonite University and was employed as a paralegal at Dell Law Firm in Manheim Township.

According to county real estate records, she purchased the Lemon Lane property in 2004.

According to newspaper records, she was divorced from J. Kenneth Hess in 2005. They were married Sept. 10, 1993.

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