Jul 31, 2009 2 min read

More than two years ago, attorneys for a Uniontown man on death row filed a notice of appeal. After several delays, Mark David Edwards Jr.’s attorneys were to have filed the substance of the appeal today. Instead, Assistant Federal Public Defender Tricia Russell filed for a six-month extension, citing a flawed MRI that was done on Edwards. Edwards, 26, was found guilty of fatally shooting Larry Bobish Sr., 50, his wife, Joanna, 42, and their daughter, Krystal, 17, and her unborn child on April 14, 2002. The fetus was 28 weeks old.

Jurors convicted him of first-degree murder in the deaths of the Bobishes and second-degree murder in the death of the unborn child.

Edwards shot the Bobishes’ son, Larry Bobish Jr., and cut his throat with a knife before setting the family’s house on fire and fleeing. Bobish Jr. told jurors during Edwards’ trial that he acted as though he was dead, and escaped his burning home after Edwards left.

Edwards denied involvement, and testified that a confession he gave to police after his arrest was made up.

In May 2007, the governor signed a death warrant for Edwards, and he filed notice that he was going to appeal his conviction to the federal courts. A judge then granted a stay of execution.

Russell indicated in her motion for more time that she has to review the entire record of the case, reinvestigate and interview family and potential witnesses.

Additionally, she indicated that an MRI conducted in November was “not performed properly” and said that a new exam was scheduled for October.

“Once those test results are received, further analysis will need to be done by our mental health experts,” she wrote.

To get the case on track, Russell indicated that there have been additional staff members added, but there is still much work to do.

She indicated that prosecutors do not object to the delay. A judge has yet to rule on the request.