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Gov. Corbett signs execution warrant for Hubert L. Michael Jr., convicted killer

  A convicted killer has been scheduled to die by lethal injection for murdering 16-year-old Trista Eng after kidnapping her in York County in the summer o...
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A convicted killer has been scheduled to die by lethal injection for murdering 16-year-old Trista Eng after kidnapping her in York County in the summer of 1993.
Gov. Tom Corbett signed Thursday an execution warrant for Hubert L. Michael Jr., setting Sept. 22 as his date to be put to death.
Michael was convicted in Oct. 1994 and subsequently sentenced to die for abducting and killing Trista Eng. Michael stopped to offer the teen a ride as she was walking along Route 15 to her job at the Dillsburg Hardee’s on July 12, 1993. She accepted, and Michael kidnapped her. Her body was found hidden on state game lands in Warrington Township.
Michael, who was out on bail for an unrelated rape charge in Lancaster County, fled the state in a rented car. He was picked up on July 27, 1993 in Utah and extradited back to Pennsylvania.

In November 1993, Michael assumed the identity of another prisoner and escaped from Lancaster County Prison.  He was later captured in New Orleans and returned to Pennsylvania in March 1994 to face rape, murder and other charges.

The death warrant for Michael is the 35th signed by Corbett since he took office. The last execution in Pennsylvania took place in 1999.
“I would urge all of us to keep Trisha Eng’s family in our thoughts and prayers,’’ Governor Corbett said in a press release.  “For more than 20 years the Eng family has had to deal with the results of his abhorrent behavior every day of their lives. It is my hope that today’s action will support the Eng family in taking the next step to put this painful journey behind them.’’
This is the fourth execution warrant signed for Michael.Governor Tom Ridge signed Michael’s first execution warrant on July 31, 1996, Governor Ed Rendell signed Michael’s second execution warrant on April 5, 2004, and Governor Corbett signed Michael’s third execution warrant on September 11, 2012.

The three prior warrants were dissolved as a result of the issuance of stays pending Michael’s numerous appeals.

The appeals were ultimately denied by the courts.

 

 

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