Killer of Upper St. Clair grandmother to die by lethal injection

Appearing in court Monday with a beard and tangled hair, Patrick Stollar was sentenced to die by lethal injection for murdering an Upper St. Clair grandmother.

Stollar, 29, of Washington, Pa., stomped, strangled and stabbed Jean Heck, 78, days after he landscaped her yard. The sentence imposed by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge David R. Cashman included 20 to 40 years in prison.

A jury convicted Stollar one month ago and decided he should be put to death. Cashman added the years in prison for Stollar's robbery and burglary convictions.

Dressed in a suit and tie for most of the trial, Stollar wore a white undershirt with gray sweatpants yesterday. His white socks were tucked into black dress shoes.

Stollar refused to be sworn in, saying it was against his freedom of religion. He questioned how his trial was able to proceed when he "signed a truth affidavit that was not rebutted," before Cashman cut him off and told him he could make arguments in an appeal.

"I have nothing to say, Your Honor," Stollar said.

Stollar defended himself in the guilt phase of the trial, arguing he was mentally ill at the time of the June 4, 2003, killing.

Heck's daughter, Andrea Kostella, said the sentence helped to end five years of uncertainty.

"It's a very significant day for me. There's a lot of peace and calm to see (this) reach it's conclusion," Kostella said. "Unlike five years of bad days, today is a positive day."

Stollar is the first person sentenced to death in Allegheny County since 2002 and becomes the 12th county convict on death row. Pennsylvania has not executed a prisoner since 1999.

Deputy District Attorney Mark V. Tranquilli told Cashman his office is lobbying the Legislature to pass a law that would make it easier to get the death penalty for people who kill the elderly.