Judge: New Stanton teen competent to stand trial for murder of mother, brother

A Westmoreland County judge Tuesday ruled a New Stanton teen charged with the murder of his mother and younger brother is competent to stand trial.

Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani said a mental health evaluation of now 17-year-old Jacob Remaley determined he can adequately cooperate and participate with his defense. The judge earlier this year said he was concerned with Remaley’s mental state.

Public Defender Wayne McGrew and District Attorney John Peck said they would not challenge the doctor’s findings, which were not made public.

Remaley has been jailed since the Nov. 30, 2016, shooting deaths of his mother Dana Remaley, 46, and brother, Caleb, 8. He is charged with two counts of first-degree homicide and is being prosecuted as an adult.

Investigators contend Remaley, then 14, awoke that morning, retrieved his father’s gun from the top of a refrigerator and shot his mother as she slept. Police said Remaley then went to his brother’s bedroom and shot him.

A defense-hired doctor testified in court last year Remaley suffered from a multiple personality disorder and was dominated by one violent personality he called “Wrath” who ordered him to kill his mother and brother. Remaley said he had other personalities including a witch, an old man and a young girl.

Remaley is currently confined to a juvenile wing in the Allegheny County Jail and is being held without bond.

McGrew said Tuesday that Remaley is considering a plea bargain offer tendered by the district attorney this week.

“I would like the opportunity to discuss it with him and his entire family,” McGrew said.

The defense has previously said Remaley would consider a plea deal that allowed him to plead guilty but mentally ill to the murder charges. McGrew said that is still the preferred outcome for the defense. “That is still on the table,” McGrew said.

Peck declined to reveal specifics of the offer.

Because Remaley was a juvenile at the time of his arrest, he can receive sentences of 35 years to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder.

The judge ordered Remaley to return to court in October when he will either accept the prosecution’s guilty plea offer or set a trial date.