Weaver sentence: 35-70 years in jail; Judge: teen remains a 'risk, danger'

Lancaster New Era (PA)

Author: Cindy Stauffer; John M. Hoober III

Keith Chul Weaver, 16, received the maximum sentence of 35 to 70 years today for the fatal stabbing of his father, mother and sister and an attempted rape of a teen-age girl, after a judge said the teen is "a risk and a danger to the community and society."

"This is a sentence that is not fashioned for his rehabilitative needs," said President Judge D. Richard Eckman. "The rehabilitation of the defendant is important but it must be secondary to protecting society."

"The large, unanswered question remains: will it happen again? ... Therefore, other persons are at risk," Eckman said.

The murder, the judge said, was a "tragedy of the greatest magnitude."

The sentencing stunned and dismayed Weaver's family and friends, who gathered in the courtroom to hear his sentence today. Many had hoped that the teen could be rehabilitated and then released from prison to lead a productive life.

"It seems like a long time," said Hershey Leaman, head of a Mennonite church group that followed the legal proceedings and reported back to the Weaver family.

However, in a statement to the court before his sentencing this morning, the slight, neatly dressed teen said even he could not guarantee what his actions would be in the future.

"It's hard to say really what happened," Weaver said of the murder, adding, "I don't really know if this will ever happen again."

During his trial, a psychologist testified that Weaver, a Korean-born child who was adopted by the Weavers, had suffered from abuse and neglect before his adoption. He said the teen heard voices who urged him to kill his family.

Weaver said today, "I realize that if I have feelings like that again, I can talk to someone and not hold it inside."

During the hour-long sentencing, another psychologist who has been treating Weaver also was asked about the chances of the teen again committing a similar violent act.

"There is some element of risk. Something could happen. The percentage is not that great, but it is always there," said Dr. David A. Rogers of Pennsylvania Psychological Services, Harrisburg.

"But, doctor, he may kill again?" Assistant District Attorney Heidi Carter asked.

"I couldn't say that," Rogers said.

"But you couldn't say no?"

The psychologist could give no guarantees.

Weaver was 14 when he killed his parents, Dr. R. Clair and Anna May Weaver, and his 15-year-old sister, Kimberly. He then sexually assaulted a teen-age girl who was visiting his home at 2995 Shenck Road, outside of Landisville.

In March of 1992, Weaver was convicted of three counts of third-degree murder and one count each of attempted rape, indecent assault and simple assault.

Eckman gave Weaver the maximum sentence - 10 to 20 years - for each murder count. He also gave him the maximum sentence - 5 to 10 years - for the attempted rape charge, which was merged with the two assault charges.

The sentence will be served in the State Correctional Institution in Camp Hill.

Before pronouncing sentence, Eckman listened to comments from Weaver; his attorney, J. Richard Gray; prosecutor Carter; and Rogers, who was called by the defense.

Weaver spoke calmly and articulately for about 10 minutes, expressing remorse for the crime.

The teen, who was adopted by the Weaver family at age 4 1/2, thanked family members and friends who helped him during his incarceration, and said he realized he had to accept the consequences of his actions.

"I will carry on from my mistakes," he said. "I have learned a lot about love. My whole life is changed, but even if I am in jail the rest of my life, nobody can take away from me the chance to be the best person I can be."

Turning to those seated in the three rows of spectator seats, Weaver said: "All I can say is that I thank you, and love you all."

"The real tragedy in this case is that he never knew about family love until he stood before a judge," said Ms. Carter.

"This is a violent, vicious act, and the day of reckoning has come for Keith Weaver," the prosecutor said. "Clair and Anna May and Kim Weaver would ask for justice."

But Gray asked the judge to show mercy.

"Never has the defense tried to minimize this horrible crime, but he (Weaver) can't understand what motivated him," said the attorney.

"Did he do it for gain? No. For spite? No. There is no easy answer," Gray said. "Forces controlled him rather than he controlling himself."

By going to jail at such a young age, Gray pointed out, Weaver will lose the best years of his life and will not experience such milestones as the first day of school, the prom, graduation, his 20s, and the chance to fall in love.

"The call here is for punishment with understanding," the defense attorney said.

"What would the Weavers want done with their son?" Gray asked. "They constantly believed in discipline, but tempered it with love and mercy. They never gave up on him."

Rogers, who began seeing Weaver on a weekly basis in May 1991, said the teen-ager was quite willing to talk about the murders, but could never give a reason for why they happened.

Rogers said he believed Weaver had a "post-traumatic stress disorder," that goes with a feeling of being rejected.

"It would be my impression he was in a disassociated state," he said. "There was an evil trend in him at the time of the murder. There was horror, intense pain and fear of what he had done."

(Staff Writer Joe Byrne also contributed to this report).