13 Prisoners Get Commutation For Murder, Released From Prison
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com File photo of Governor Tom Wolf. by Alex Lloyd Gross
- George W. Burkhardt, 83, Lancaster, served 30 years for Murder 2, recommended in Dec. 2020
- Daniel Cummings, 75, Philadelphia, served 38 years for Murder 1, recommended in Sept. 2020
- Eric I. Eisen, 52, Allegheny, served 26 years for Murder 2, recommended in Dec. 2020
- Reid Evans, 57, Philadelphia, served 39 years for Murder 2, recommended in Sept. 2020
- Wyatt Evans, 58, Philadelphia, served 39 years for Murder 2, recommended in Sept. 2020
- Charlie J. Goldblum, 71, Allegheny, served 42 years for Murder 1, recommended in Sept. 2019
- Charles M. Haas, 72, Philadelphia, served 41 years for Murder 2, recommended in Dec. 2020
- Dennis Horton, 51, Philadelphia, served 27 years for Murder 2, recommended in Dec. 2020
- Lee A. Horton, 55, Philadelphia, served 27 years from Murder 2, recommended in Dec. 2020
- Avis Lee, 59, Allegheny, served 40 years for Murder 2, recommended in Sept. 2020
- Francisco Mojita, Sr.,58, Philadelphia, served 28 years for Murder 2, recommended in Sept. 2020
- Mildred Strickland, 75, Philadelphia, served 31 years for Murder 1, recommended in Sept. 2020
- Gregory Stover, 55, Philadelphia, served 32 years for Murder 1, recommended in Sept. 2020 Those are the names of the people who got their sentences for murder commuted to time served by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.
The Horton brothers maintain that they did not commit the murder and robbery in 1993 that they were accused of doing. Both served 27 years. The Evans brothers served 40 years after they were convicted of an armed carjacking in 1981 in Philadelphia. The victim had a heart attack and died , which resulted in a murder charge for the brothers.
It must be noted that most of the names on this list are prisoner that are up in years and are a burden to the prison system. George Burkhardt Jr. is 83 years old and Mildred Strickland was convicted of murder in Philadelphia and is 75 years old.
These names were given to the pardon board, chaired by John Fetterman, the Lt. Governor. Their entire case file is reviewed and must pass the entire five person pardon board. Once that happens, their names are recommended to the Governor who can sign or ignore the he recommendation. These prisoners will be released to a community corrections facility and then put on parole. They will still be convicted felons.