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Pocono News Section
Joseph Geiger Pleads Guilty to 1985 Murder
Joseph Geiger Pleads Guilty to 1985 Murder - Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 4:19PM EST
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY- A 23 year Schuylkill County murder mystery is solved. Joseph Geiger of Pottsville is behind bars for the 1985 death of teenager David Reed of Schuylkill Haven. He plead guilty to indirectly causing Reeds death in Schuylkill County court Thursday morning. Geiger was sentenced to no more than two years in prison for involuntary manslaughter . Reed’s cousin Rhonda Sheriff says, "Everyone knows that he did it now. We know Dave can be reburied and we all have that piece of mind now."
Geiger says he was responsible for David Reed's death back in 1985. He punched Reed in an argument over drugs. Reed fell, hit his head and died. Reed's cousin Pam Schappell says, "Well I'm glad he finally took responsibility and we always kind of felt that it was him that was responsible."
The investigation stalled for years but in 2005, police questioned witnesses again. After exhuming and re-examing Reed's body, police arrested Geiger last August. He was originally charged with 3rd degree murder. But Geiger pled to involuntary manslaughter, a lesser charge. His sentence: at least one year in prison, but no more than two years. Geiger will get credit for time served so it's possible he'll only serve 6 more months in the Schuylkill County prison. Sheriff says, "You see people getting way longer sentences you know, for d-u-i's. You know I've seen longer sentences given out for such crimes that wouldn't compare to this."
Schappell says, "We're not exactly thrilled that he's not going to spend hardly any time in jail but at least we know he didn't get away with it."
But reed's cousins say they're just happy the investigation is over. "Finally he'll be able to rest. After all these years this is the first time that he'll actually be at rest," says Sheriff. | |
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