Keith Burley, Jr was released for good behaviour, he is now accused of murder

People are more than the worst thing they have ever done in their lives. – Helen Prejean

Explaining her opposition to the death penalty. As quoted in: N.Y. Times Magazine, May 9, 1993

            The above quote by Helen Prejean, was quoted in N.Y. Times Magazine, May 9, 1993, where she explained her opposition to the death penalty. This infamous quote was used by her to give an excuse why guilty murderers should not be put to death. Sadly, this quote has been used by people who want to end mass incarceration as an excuse on why criminals cannot be locked up forever.

            Keith Burley, Jr. is accused of killing an 8-year-old boy in New Castle, just months after his release from prison. The reason for his release: he is a model prisoner. Just like Barry Hadlow and Lenny Keith Lawson, they were brilliant actors to fool the parole board to release them. 

Keith Burley Jr., the man Charged With Kidnapping, Fatally Stabbing 8-Year-Old Boy Has Criminal History

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/07/09/keith-burley-the-man-who-killed-mark-mason-has-length-criminal-history/]

Pa. parole board cites good behavior as reason for releasing parolee now accused of murder

27 Investigates

Keith Burley, Jr. is accused of killing an 8-year-old boy in New Castle, just months after his release from prison
by: Chelsea Simeon

Posted: Nov 19, 2019 / 10:44 AM EST / Updated: Nov 19, 2019 / 11:02 AM EST

Related Content

·         Parolee accused of killing Lawrence County boy moved throughout multiple prisons during sentence

(WKBN) – The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole released its reasoning for releasing an inmate who is accused of killing a Lawrence County boy while he was out on parole. 

The board decided to release Keith Burley, Jr. from SCI — Fayette in March following an interview with him and a review of his file. The parole board said its decision was based on the following factors:

• Burley’s participation in and completion of prescribed institutional programs
• Positive institutional behavior
• A positive recommendation made by the Department of Corrections
• Burley’s demonstrated motivation for success
• His acceptance of responsibility for the offense(s) committed
• Stated remorse for the offense(s) committed
• Development of a parole release plan
• A positive recommendation made by the trial judge

WKBN also requested records that were given to the parole board before it made its decision, but that information was not provided. According to the board, that information is confidential.

Burley is accused of killing 8-year-old Mark Edward Mason, Jr. after a fight with the boy’s mother in New Castle just months after his release from prison. 

He had spent 20 years in prison after he was convicted of killing a man during a robbery in New Castle.
 
While Burley was in prison, he was charged again in 2002 for an incident that happened inside the facility. According to court documents, he was charged with aggravated harassment and assault by a prisoner. 

The case against him and four other parolees prompted a review of the state’s parole practices.

Burley was first booked into a Pittsburgh facility in 1996. Records show he was moved in and out of various prisons 47 times until March 28, 2019, when he was paroled. 

The Department of Corrections did not release information on whether any misconduct was at play in the moves, citing it was unable to release inmates’ misconduct reports due to “investigative, security and privacy concerns.” 

According to the records provided by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, Burley was ordered to meet certain criteria to remain on parole. 

He was ordered to have a curfew, have a job or be actively looking for a job, participate in out-patient drug or alcohol treatment, go through random drug tests and avoid consuming alcohol. He was also ordered not to possess ammunition.

Burley is awaiting trial early next year on homicide, kidnapping and other charges.

INTERNET SOURCE: https://www.wkbn.com/news/27-investigates/pa-parole-board-cites-good-behavior-as-reason-for-releasing-parolee-now-accused-of-murder/

 

Mark Edward Mason, Jr., New Castle, PA – Obituary

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.wkbn.com/my-valley-tributes/mark-edward-mason-jr-new-castle-pa-obituary/]

2 teens witnessed Pa. boy, 8, being stabbed to death by homicide parolee: cops

By John Luciew

pennlive.com

Two boys who state police say witnessed a homicide parolee stabbing an 8-year-old boy to death first thought the man was hitting the boy.

But what was happening in a Lawrence County home on Monday night was far more horrific than that.

The newspaper reports the two young witnesses were at a New Castle home playing video games when the suspect, Keith L. Burley Jr., entered the house with two other young boys.

Burley, who just made parole in March on another homicide conviction, had a gun, but apparently no ammo. So he ordered the startled boys to search the house for a magazine full of bullets, the newspaper reports citing the criminal complaint.

But when the boys returned from their bedroom search, they saw something they couldn’t comprehend at first.

One of the boys told police he saw what he thought was Burley hitting one of the young children.

But as the two young witnesses neared Burley, they saw he wasn’t just hitting the 8-year-old.

Burley was repeatedly – and ultimately fatally -- stabbing the boy, now identified by police as Mark Edward Mason.

One of the boy witnesses described the weapon as a pink camouflage knife, the police report said.

Both boys told police that Burley ran from the house after stabbing Mason, who police say suffered multiple stab wounds. An autopsy is pending.

A manhunt for Burley, 43, of Edinburg, Pa., ended Tuesday morning as U.S. marshals arrested him in Youngstown, Ohio.

Other details from New Castle News:

Burley faces charges of homicide; two counts each of aggravated assault, kidnapping to inflict terror and unlawful restraint; three counts of terroristic threats; four counts of recklessly endangering another person; and one count of simple assault.

Police say the deadly domestic incident was sparked when Burley had an argument with the dead boy’s 36-year-old mother — believed to have been his girlfriend.

Burley was on parole from a 1999 robbery shooting death, according to state police. He had pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and having a gun without a license. He served the minimum on a 20- to 40-year prison term in the case.

Burley was released from state prison in March.

INTERNET SOURCE: https://www.pennlive.com/daily-buzz/2019/07/2-teens-witnessed-pa-boy-8-being-stabbed-to-death-by-homicide-parolee-cops.html

 

Pennywise the evil clown in the 1990 TV series and the 2017 Movie.

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.inverse.com/article/36140-stephen-king-it-pennywise-clown-film-tim-curry-1990s-movie-differences]