Upper St. Clair woman's killer sentenced to death

Appearing in court this morning with a beard and tangled hair, Patrick Stollar was sentenced to die by lethal injection plus an additional 20 to 40 years in prison 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. An Allegheny County jury last month decided he should get the death penalty.

Common Pleas Judge David R. Cashman imposed the death sentence and added the additional years for Stollar's burglary and robbery convictions.

Stollar refused to be sworn in, saying it was against his freedom of religion. He also 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 his appeals.

"I have nothing to say, your honor," Stollar said.

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

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

Heck's daughter, Andrea Kostella, said after the hearing that today's sentencing brings closure to five years uncertainty.

"It's a very significant day for me. There's a lot of peace and calm to see it 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 hasn't executed anyone since 1999.