Cambria County, PA — A former Johnstown police officer, and current murder convict, Craig Knepper, is reportedly going to be out on parole, according to the family of the victim, Susan Burkhart/Fyock.
Knepper pled guilty on Christmas Eve 2002 to avoid a life sentence.
In June of that year, police say Knepper got into an argument with Fyock.
They say he ended up shooting Fyock once in the leg, and once in the head, killing her.
All while her then 4-year-old child was watching. The child was then kidnapped and later found safe, in Jerome, Somerset County.
Relatives of Fyock say they weren't told by the state parole board that Knepper was granted parole until the state's Office of Victim Advocates reached out to them.
Fyock’s relatives say they feel justice has not yet been served.
“My sister doesn’t come back from the grave in 20 years. Why should he get out? Why should he be paroled? He was a police officer and he should be held for it.” says the sister of Fyock, Susan Hagerich.
“It made me angry. I don’t think he should be eligible for parole this soon. I mean, I didn't like the sentence when it was given.” Larry Burkhart, the brother of Fyock says.
The advocate office says the statement from Fyock's family saying that they were never contacted directly by the parole board prior to the hearing is inaccurate.
Relatives of Fyock say it’s unfair that the board did not contact them directly, for the alleged hearing, granting Knepper's parole.
They say authorities told them Knepper will be out on parole sometime in April.
Fyock’s family says they will remember her as a fun and loving person who frequently engaged with others.
6 News reached out directly to the state's parole board to hear why they say Knepper is being taken out of prison, plus why they allegedly didn’t reach out to the family directly. We have not yet received a response.
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