Gov. Wolf Commutes Life Sentences For 13 Jailed On Murder Charges

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf has signed 13 commutations, as recommended by the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons. The applicants, sentenced to life in prison for murder charges, will soon be freed to a Community Corrections Center and eventually paroled.

“These 13 individuals have served time for their crimes and deserve now a second chance,” Gov. Wolf said in a statement. “They now have a chance to begin a life outside of prison that I hope is fulfilling for each of them.”

The following people will be released from prison with time served:

• 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

Among those whose sentences were commuted are two sets of Philadelphia brothers who were both sentenced to life in prison under separate second-degree murder cases.

According to the governor's office, Reid Evans and Wyatt Evans have served nearly 40 years since their 1981 convictions. The brothers robbed a 68-year-old man at gunpoint and forced him out of his car, stealing the vehicle. The man later had a heart attack and died early the next day, making the robbery a murder under the felony murder law.

Dennis Horton and Lee Horton have served 27 years for a 1993 robbery and fatal shooting that both men have maintained they didn’t commit.

Two women are among those who have had their sentences commuted. Avis Lee, 59, and Mildred Strickland, 75 were both sentenced to life for murder in separate Philadelphia County cases.

Lt. Gov. Fetterman chairs the five-person Board of Pardons, which must vote unanimously on applications for commutations of life sentences to pass the recommendations to the governor.

“Each of these Pennsylvanians is fully deserving of the chance to return to their families and start a new life,” Fetterman said.