New Stanton teen pleads guilty but mentally ill in 2016 killing of mother, brother

Jacob Remaley on Tuesday simply said he was sorry.

Sorry for forever changing his family on the morning of Nov. 30, 2016, when, at age 14, he shot and killed his mother and younger brother in their New Stanton home.

“I know I am guilty,” Remaley, now 18, said as he pleaded guilty but mentally ill to two counts of first-degree murder.

Remaley’s father and a small group of relatives watched as he took responsibility for his actions. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Feliciani then sentenced him to serve two concurrent prison terms of 30 years to life.

Given credit for time served, Remaley will be eligible for parole before his 45th birthday.

Remaley woke early on Nov. 30, 2016, after his father had left for work, police said. He retrieved a gun from atop a refrigerator and walked to his parents’ bedroom, where he shot his 46-year-old mother, Dana. He then moved to the bedroom of his brother, where he shot and killed 8-year-old Caleb.

Jacob Remaley, wearing a blue prison jumpsuit over his tall frame and sporting wispy facial hair, rarely spoke during Tuesday’s brief hearing, responding to most questions from the judge with a quick “yes” or “no.”

When asked whether he had anything else to say, Remaley responded, “Just that I am sorry.”

The judge said Remaley’s future is up to him.

“I am sure this is a sad day for you and your family, but you have taken responsibility for your actions,” Feliciani said. “Take advantage of all the programs offered, so when the day comes you are eligible for parole, you may be paroled.”

The plea of guilty but mentally ill means Remaley can be sent to a psychiatric treatment program within the state’s prison system. Once it is determined that treatment is no longer needed, he will serve out the rest of his sentence in prison, according to defense attorney Wayne McGrew.

District Attorney John Peck conceded that Remaley is in need of treatment.

“We have a significant mental health diagnosis, and there’s a real concern about the state of his mental health, even at this time,” Peck said.

He noted the emotional nature of the case but said the violence involved still required a long prison sentence.

“This was a clear case of a deliberate and intentional murder,” Peck said. “He got a gun and killed his mother so she couldn’t hear him kill his brother.”

Remaley is one of a number of local teens to have been charged with murder, including two involved in a fatal Latrobe robbery, a Jeannette teen convicted of killing a friend then sending out a picture of the victim over social media and a 17-year-old girl’s participation in a torture slaying of a mentally disabled woman in Greensburg.

“More and more, we are prosecuting juveniles for murder,” Peck lamented.

Remaley was diagnosed with multiple personality disorder and, according to his doctors, he was under the influence of one he called “Wrath,” which ordered him to kill his mother and brother. Doctors said Remaley’s other personalities included that of a witch, an old man and a young girl.

McGrew said Remaley has been responding to treatment. While incarcerated in the youth offenders pod at the Allegheny County Jail, he attended school and, in the last two months, earned his high school diploma.

Remaley’s family members declined to comment following the hearing. They were allowed to meet in private with him for about 10 minutes in a jury room near the courtroom before Remaley was taken back to jail.

“My heart goes out to the family because they are very supportive of him, but they have to be conflicted at the same time,” McGrew said. “His dad has been beside him the entire way and understandably concerned about his health but understandably conflicted with what happened and what occurred.”