BEDFORD — The Bedford County district attorney late Monday afternoon requested a hearing to prevent the autopsy report in a 2001 Imler homicide from being released to The Tribune-Democrat.
Judge Thomas Ling will hear the request for a seal at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Bedford County Court.
In accordance with a January ruling by the state Supreme Court opening such records to the public, The Tribune-Democrat renewed its request Friday for the report on Dana Gates.
She was beaten at her home in November 2001.
Blair County Coroner Patricia Ross said she will release the autopsy, but that “someone from the Gates family will be there when I let you see it.’’
“That’s not appropriate, for the reporter or for the family. From a public access point of view, that’s inappropriate,’’ said Melissa Melewsky, an attorney for the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association in Harrisburg.
Since the January ruling, she said, the coroner is required by law to give copies of the autopsy reports – more than the spare checklist on cause and manner of death – to the public through the prothonotary. The high court allowed only limited exceptions.
A spokeswoman for the Blair County Prothonotary’s Office said the office has filings from deaths in which an inquest was conducted, but nothing more.
Melewsky said the release of records has been shown not only to assist police in cracking a case but also in exonerating the accused.
The Tribune-Democrat began its legal petition for the autopsy record on Jan. 30, 2002 – exactly two months after Gates was killed – when officials kept secret the details of the crime.
Bedford County District Attorney Bill Higgins maintains that the Gates death is not a cold case and that the autopsy record needs to stay secret for investigatory reasons.
Gates was critically injured at her home in Bedford County but died in Blair en route to an Altoona hospital, involving both counties in the murder case.
Local News
DA asks court to seal autopsy in Gates’ case
- Local News
-
-
Boil-water notice issued in Upper Yoder Township
A boil-water notice has been issued for a portion of Upper Yoder Township as crews work to repair a leak along Route 271. -
No NDIC jobs to stay in city
After years of political clashes and fiscal uncertainty, these are the facts of the National Drug Intelligence Center’s final days:
• 87: The number of employees losing their jobs as NDIC operations wind down this year.
• 57: The number of staffers, aside from those 87, who will be offered jobs in Washington, D.C.
• Zero: The number of NDIC-related jobs that will remain in Johnstown. -
Blogging with heart
I had a couple of interesting interviews over the past 24 hours. The first was with an ambitious Forest Hills High School junior who organized a Red Out across the district today in support of American Heart Association. Like many of those involved in Heart Association benefits, Spencer Ivock was inspired by his own family members' experience with heart disease.
-
Forest Hills junior puts his heart into Red Out
Forest Hills junior Spencer Ivock is “redding out” the schools today for his senior project.
-
Local pair accused of robbing home twice
A Johnstown couple has been charged with breaking into a Lower Yoder Township home twice in a four-month period – and then selling, for $103, some of the thousands of dollars in goods they alleged swiped.
-
Steel firm considers coal mine near Que
Cambria Somerset Authority officials plan to meet this week with representatives of an Ohio-based steel company about a plan that could put a coal mine south of the Quemahoning Reservoir.
-
In brief: Somerset motorist dies in crash
A 28-year-old Somerset man was killed Thursday morning when his vehicle left the road, hit a drainage ditch and rolled over.
- Births 02/03/2012
-
[VIDEO] Party in Punxsutawney: Groundhog Day is about more than seeing shadows
For the thousands who show up at Gobbler's Knob as early as 8 p.m. on Feb. 1, Groundhog Day is about more than whether or not Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow: It's an excuse to party.
The Tribune-Democrat's Justin Dennis spent the night among the masses and captured all of the festivities on film. -
[VIDEO] Punxsutawney Phil makes his prediction
More than 18,000 people – some representing states as far away as Arkansas and Oregon – crammed into the outdoor amphitheatre of Gobbler’s Knob on Thursday for the annual weather party known as Groundhog Day.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Boil-water notice issued in Upper Yoder Township
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
NC Police: Mom Injects Chemical Into Baby's IV
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Komen Reverses Planned Parenthood Cuts
Official: 2nd Teacher Pulled From Calif. School
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Hiring Burst Pushes Jobless Rate Down to 8.3%
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Past Complaint About LA Teacher Comes to Light
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
Reaction Heated on Planned Parenthood-Komen Rift
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Madonna Nervous About Super Bowl Halftime Show
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
