Judge: New Stanton teen accused in family slayings should be tried as adult

A New Stanton teenager accused in the execution-style slayings of his mother and younger brother in their home two years ago will be tried as an adult.

A Westmoreland County judge ruled Wednesday the community would be at risk if 16-year-old Jacob Remaley is prosecuted in the juvenile court system. Remaley is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the shooting deaths of his mother, Dana Remaley, 46, and his 8-year-old brother, Caleb, on Nov. 30, 2016.

Police said Remaley, who was 14 at the time, awoke the morning of the murders, retrieved a gun from the top of a refrigerator and, after initially learning the weapon was not loaded, doubled back to arm the handgun.

He shot his mother above her left eye as she slept, prosecutors contend. He moved to his younger brother’s bedroom and fired one shot into the center of his forehead, prosecutors said.

The defense argued Remaley suffers from mental illness and was under the influence of a dominant personality, which told him to commit the murders.

Because of that diagnosis and Remaley’s age, the defense sought to have his case transferred to juvenile court, where he could not be kept in custody beyond his 21st birthday.

Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani, in a 21-page opinion, ruled that Remaley’s mental illness is not likely to be adequately treated in the juvenile court system during the years that remain until he reaches adulthood.

”The court is not convinced that the community would be adequately shielded from the consequences of Mr. Remaley’s unresolved mental health issues within the jurisdictional time frame that remains if decertification were to be granted,” Feliciani wrote.

Public Defender Wayne McGrew said the defense was disappointed with the judge’s ruling.

“Our ultimate goal is to get him the best treatment, as much as possible. That’s what he really needs,” McGrew said.

He said it was unclear when or if the case will go to trial. No plea bargain talks have been convened with prosecutors, McGrew said.

District Attorney John Peck said he had not reviewed the judge’s opinion and was unable to immediately comment about the case.

A conviction in adult court could result in Remaley being sentenced to what might amount to a life prison sentence. He also could receive a sentence that allows him to be paroled after 35 years.

A prosecution-hired psychiatrist testified during a hearing this year that Remaley’s mental health issues — during which he experiences multiple personalities — could not be treated over the next five years.

Dr. Bruce Wright said a review of Remaley’s writings and history indicated deceit and a degree of manipulation that cast doubt on the teen’s mental health diagnosis

“The court finds based on the evidence presented it is quite possible that Mr. Remaley acted with a significant degree of criminal sophistication if he fabricated his account of what happened,” the judge wrote.

Meanwhile, a psychologist hired by the defense argued that Remaley’s history indicated he was not at risk to commit a similar crime and that the teen presented a low risk to the community.

Remaley contended he was under the influence of another dominant personality named “Wrath,” who told him to kill his mother and brother. He also reported to have personalities of a witch, an old man and a young girl.

The experts said Remaley continued to struggle with the additional personalities after he was arrested and confined in the county’s juvenile detention center.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.