Teen Kills Family Just to Attend Prom (1 Viewer)

Apr 12, 2004
77,164
#1
SOUTH BEND, Indiana (AP) -- A jury convicted a man Friday of killing his father, stepmother and two stepsisters 17 years ago inside their church parsonage home so he could attend some high school prom events.

The St. Joseph County jury found Jeffrey Pelley, now 34, guilty on four counts of murder after deliberating more than 25 hours since Wednesday. Pelley faces up to 260 years in prison when he is sentenced September 15.

Prosecutors accused Pelley, a high school senior at the time, of using a shotgun to kill his father, the Rev. Robert Pelley; stepmother, Dawn; and stepsisters, Janel, 8, and Jolene, 6, in April 1989 at their home next to the Olive Branch Church of the United Brethren in Lakeville, about 10 miles south of South Bend.

Investigators said Pelley was angry because his father had grounded him for stealing and would allow him to attend only the prom dance, causing him to miss a prom dinner, a bowling alley party and an outing the next day at an amusement park outside Chicago.

Pelley was not charged in the deaths until August 2002, when authorities reinterpreted evidence. Pelley was living in Dade City, Florida, when he was arrested.

Prosecutors alleged Pelley shot his family members on the evening of the prom, disposed of the shotgun and shells, took a shower, put his clothes in the washer and left for the prom.

Pelley's defense attorneys argued there wasn't enough time for him to have done all that and still make it to the LaVille High School prom.

They also said no one could commit such a gruesome attack and still act "normal" during the prom events, as his friends testified during the trial.

The defense also questioned the decision by investigators not to look for fingerprints at the crime scene.

Police officers testified during the trial that they didn't think they would find any usable prints and they thought it would be a waste of time because Pelley was their main suspect.

The shotgun used in the killings was never found.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Seven

In bocca al lupo, Fabio.
Jun 25, 2003
39,463
#9
What I gather from this article is that the prosecutors say he must be guilty "because he's our main suspect" and that the defense brings on arguments to prove his innocence. I hope this piece is very poorly written, otherwise this just never was a trial :).
 

Seven

In bocca al lupo, Fabio.
Jun 25, 2003
39,463
#10
Oh and the article's title is wrong. He was actually allowed to attend the prom. What a crappy journalist.
 

Slagathor

Bedpan racing champion
Jul 25, 2001
22,708
#12
ßömßärdîër said:
Well still, he was not allowed to go to all the activities, damnm i didn't know i was going to get critiqued this bad, shit.
That's why I stopped writing match reports and analyses on these boards. Can't write a word or Andries jumps on it
 

Hambon

Lion of the Desert
Apr 22, 2005
8,073
#14
Seven said:
What I gather from this article is that the prosecutors say he must be guilty "because he's our main suspect" and that the defense brings on arguments to prove his innocence. I hope this piece is very poorly written, otherwise this just never was a trial :).

Oh and the article's title is wrong. He was actually allowed to attend the prom. What a crappy journalist.
Your new Native Indian name is: Eagle Eye :D
 

Seven

In bocca al lupo, Fabio.
Jun 25, 2003
39,463
#16
ßömßärdîër said:
Well still, he was not allowed to go to all the activities, damnm i didn't know i was going to get critiqued this bad, shit.
Well even if the title was yours that can be forgiven. But the article is just not very well written.
 

Seven

In bocca al lupo, Fabio.
Jun 25, 2003
39,463
#18
ßömßärdîër said:
SOUTH BEND, Indiana (AP) -- A jury convicted a man Friday of killing his father, stepmother and two stepsisters 17 years ago inside their church parsonage home so he could attend some high school prom events.

The St. Joseph County jury found Jeffrey Pelley, now 34, guilty on four counts of murder after deliberating more than 25 hours since Wednesday. Pelley faces up to 260 years in prison when he is sentenced September 15.

Prosecutors accused Pelley, a high school senior at the time, of using a shotgun to kill his father, the Rev. Robert Pelley; stepmother, Dawn; and stepsisters, Janel, 8, and Jolene, 6, in April 1989 at their home next to the Olive Branch Church of the United Brethren in Lakeville, about 10 miles south of South Bend.

Investigators said Pelley was angry because his father had grounded him for stealing and would allow him to attend only the prom dance, causing him to miss a prom dinner, a bowling alley party and an outing the next day at an amusement park outside Chicago.

Pelley was not charged in the deaths until August 2002, when authorities reinterpreted evidence. Pelley was living in Dade City, Florida, when he was arrested.

Prosecutors alleged Pelley shot his family members on the evening of the prom, disposed of the shotgun and shells, took a shower, put his clothes in the washer and left for the prom.

Pelley's defense attorneys argued there wasn't enough time for him to have done all that and still make it to the LaVille High School prom.

They also said no one could commit such a gruesome attack and still act "normal" during the prom events, as his friends testified during the trial.

The defense also questioned the decision by investigators not to look for fingerprints at the crime scene.

Police officers testified during the trial that they didn't think they would find any usable prints and they thought it would be a waste of time because Pelley was their main suspect.

The shotgun used in the killings was never found.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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REAL STORY
Just read the highlighted part. According to this article the defense had three valid arguments and the prosecutors had none. What kind of trial would that have been? And I didn't even mention "Pelley's our main suspect anyway, so no need to examine further evidence" yet.
 
OP
ßöмßäяðîëя
Apr 12, 2004
77,164
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread Starter #19
    Seven said:
    Just read the highlighted part. According to this article the defense had three valid arguments and the prosecutors had none. What kind of trial would that have been? And I didn't even mention "Pelley's our main suspect anyway, so no need to examine further evidence" yet.

    Ohh, i understand what you are saying, it is speculative at best.
     

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