Edwards hearing continued
For the fifth time, quadruple homicide suspect Mark D. Edwards Jr. had his pretrial conference continued, leaving up in the air whether or not he will accept a general plea to first-degree murder. The 19-year-old Uniontown man is accused of shooting and killing four members of the Bobish family, including an unborn male child, and injuring a fifth person on April 14. After he fatally shot Larry Bobish Sr., 50; his wife Joanna, 42; and their daughter, 17-year-old Krystal, and her unborn son, state police allege Edwards set their Kennedy Street Extension home on fire.
The fire came to light when an off-duty state police corporal delivering papers with his son, spotted the fire and saw wounded 12-year-old Larry “LJ” Bobish Jr. laying outside the house. The youngster was shot and had his neck cut, but survived by escaping once the house was set on fire.
LJ later testified that he knew Edwards from visits to his home and identified him as his family’s killer. Police have theorized that Edwards killed the Bobishes because he stole from the family and did not want to be reported to authorities.
Public Defender Jeffrey Whiteko, whose office represents Edwards, said Monday in court that his client is still undergoing psychiatric examinations. Whiteko said the outcome of those evaluations will help determine if Edwards accepts or rejects the plea offer.
District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon said that Edwards’ trial has been continued until February and did not object to giving Edwards another month to give prosecutors an answer to the plea offer.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Edwards could face the death penalty. A separate attorney, Dianne Zerega, has been appointed by the court to handle the penalty phase at trial.