New Stanton teen to plead guilty but mentally ill in shooting deaths of mother, brother

A New Stanton teenager will plead guilty but mentally ill to two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2016 shooting deaths of his mother and younger brother.

The attorney for 17-year-old Jacob Remaley told a Westmoreland County judge Tuesday the teen will accept the plea bargain deal after his 18th birthday in February.

Public Defender Wayne McGrew said there were “logistics to get in place and finalize.”

Remaley is being prosecuted as an adult for the Nov. 30, 2016, fatal shootings of his mother, Dana Remaley, 46, and younger brother, Caleb, 8.

Remaley, then 14, awoke early, retrieved his father’s gun from the top of a refrigerator and shot his mother as she slept, investigators said. Remaley then went to his brother’s bedroom and shot him, police said.

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

“He has severe mental health issues and depression and made this decision (to plead guilty) after discussions with his family,” McGrew said.

Remaley did not speak during Tuesday’s brief hearing.

Common Pleas Judge Christopher Feliciani said he would accept Remaley’s plea after his birthday. McGrew said delaying the date of the guilty plea will make it easier to place Remaley in a psychiatric institution that caters to adults once he is sentenced.

In July, the judge ruled Remaley is competent to stand trial.

McGrew said Remaley is expected to receive two concurrent prison sentences of 30 years to life for the murders.

Because he was a juvenile at the time of the fatal shootings, Remaley is not subject to the mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder convictions.

His guilty but mentally ill plea will not reduce the time he is to remain in custody. As a condition of the deal, Remaley will receive psychiatric treatment in addition to confinement in a state prison.

Remaley has been held without bond since his arrest, first at the Regional Youth Services Center in Hempfield and currently in the juvenile wing at the Allegheny County Jail.