The Book of the Dead
Those Sentenced to Death In Pennsylvania
And Those Who Ordered Their Deaths
By: Francis DeSales
Volunteer Editor

It's not just immoral, it's pathetic. What civilized society must shink to the status of it's worst criminals? What civilized culture resorts to slaughtering it's own? It's a kind of madness where the "good guys" make themselves as bad as the "bad guys."

All sane persons recognize that, like torture, capital punishment is simply irrational. Were an individual to extract such self-consuming vengeance he would be called deranged. Of the civilized nations of the world only the United States uses capital punishment (or torture, for that matter). We don't execute prisoners because we're strong or tough or masculine or robust. We kill because we're too ethically weak to control our lowest urges. Killing is proof that we've lost.

Capital punishment isn't only insane, it's unfair, indeed, it's almost randomly haphazard. Who dies depends on how sadistic the presiding judge happens to be. That's the reason why ghoulish Pennsylvania prosecutors shop to get the very worst judges available, the killer judges. Because the judges reflect the randomness of our killing, we've arranged this "Book of the Dead" by the killer judges who pass out the death sentences in our names. These are the vampires who make us all accomplices in their cruelty. Decent persons simply wouldn't do these calculated things.

But it's not just the unfairness of the judges. It's also the bias of race. For the same offense, the Afro-American has twice the likelihood of getting the death penalty. At the same time, he's got only half the chance of getting anything like a "fair" trial. Because of the stark racial disparity in death sentences, our roster of the doomed lists the race of the condemned.

It must be remembered that only about 13% of Pennsylvania's population, or about 1.5 million persons, is classified as African-American. That means that there should be 7 and a half times as many non-blacks on Death Row as there are Afro-Americans. So, why are most Death Row prisoners blacks? Frankly, as a society, we don't value black lives as highly as white lives.

The great majority of the whites on Death Row are poor men. The real disparity on Death Row is between the haves and the have-nots. Capital punishment is rooted in class warfare. Those who have money and means are seldom if ever sentenced to death. Every American knows that people with money must be "good." Money makes them good. It's part of the madness of American social mythology. We don't sentence "good" people to death. The people with money (the Republicans) have seen to that.

The persons on Death Row had little or no adequate legal representation. Most had slipshod public defenders to represent them. They couldn't afford investigators to dig up facts. They couldn't afford medical experts to refute the lies of police laboratories. They couldn't afford to find and obtain witnesses. They couldn't challenge the government's machine and deep pockets.

Most of the persons sentenced to death had sub-standard educations. Few had families which instilled the basics of knowledge and responsibility which most of us take for granted. The death sentence is simply not evenhanded or fair. The American way is to kill those on society's bottom rung, persons nobody cares about.

Most of Pennsylvania's capital cases came from Philadelphia, the death capital of the United States. A small army of mostly white judges have sentenced half the capital cases in the Commonwealth, but Philadelphia represents only one sixth to the state's population. To explain the geographical disparity in death sentencing, we publish a companion table, The Death Table. It reflects the counties in the state which are most blood thirsty.

The universal excuse for the death sentence is that "they deserve it!" It's such an inane rationalization that it hardly warrants comment. In point of fact, people (including juries) make mistakes. (Did YOU ever make one?) Many of the folks we kill are not guilty of the crime for which they've been convicted. In Pennsylvania, the prosecutor isn't interested in "justice." He (or more often, she) is obsessed with winning. Most prosecutors are perfectly content to cheat, lie and distort just to win. The death sentence is just a way to keep score. As a class, prosecutors are pretty despicable persons.

Of course, in a larger sense, we ALL "deserve" to die. It's a fact of nature. If we live, we deserve to die.

The critical question is do we deserve to kill? Should our legal system make killers of all of us. Many Americans are decent persons. They don't want to be parties to official murder. No system of vengeance should make us accomplices to killing. That's immoral.

Over time, the long roster of Death Row grows and changes. Regrettably, here at www.prisoners.com. we lack the staff to keep the list constantly current. Please excuse any errors or omissions.

Sentencing Judge
County
Condemned Person
(Inmate Number) & (Race)
Judge Adams Fayette Scott W. Blystone (AP 9152)(W)
Judge Paul Allison Lancaster Orlando Baez (CB 3721)(H)
Francis B. Harris (DL 0556)(W)
Judge William Baldwin Schuylkill Ronald Champney (EC 0356)(W)
Mark Spotz (DA 4586) (W) (3DS)
Judge John E. Blachovec Westmorland Michael J. Travaglia (AP 5319) (W)
Judge Edgar Bayley Cumberland Antyane Robinson (DF 4365) (B)
Judge John Bell Washington Thomas J. Gorby (AJ 3366)(W)
Roland Steele (BZ 2039)(B)(3DS)
William Wallace (AJ 0568) (B)
Judge Edward Biester Bucks Frank Chester (BA 8368)(W)
Richard Laird (AT 0811)(W)
Judge Biunno Philadelphia Edward Bracey (BU 0711)(B)
James A. Dennis (BY 7796) (B)
Jerome Marshall (AY 5932)(B)
Robert Wharton (AY 6874) (B)(2DS)
Judge Hiram Carpenter Blair William Wright III (DV 2181) (W)
Judge William Carpenter Montgomery John Eichinger (GL 3402)(W)(3DS)
Judge Gary Caruso Westmorland John C. Lesko (AP 5372)(W)
Judge Emanuel Cassimatis York John A. Small (DK 2434) (W)
Judge David Cercone Allegheny Leroy Fears (CQ 7760) (B)
Anthony J. Fiebiger (DW 5907) (W)
Wayne C. Mitchell (EC 4077)(B)
Judge John Cherry Dauphin Herbert Blakeney (FB 5713)(B)
Ernest Wholaver, Jr. (FY 3325) (W)
Judge John Chronister York Daniel Jacobs (CA 0314)(B)
Hubert L. Michael, Jr. (CS 8880)(W)
Paul G. Taylor (BT 2525) (B)(4DS)
Judge Clarke Philadelphia Ronald Collins (CP 0353)(B)(2DS)
Sheldon Hannibal (CG 5771) (B)
Alexander Keaton (CM 9724)(B)
Orlando Maisonet (BW 0159) (H)
Bernard McGill (CJ 8281)(B)
Shawn T. Walker (BU 0744)(B)
Judge Shad Connelly Erie Jose Marrero (CN 7686)(H)
Judge Gerald Corso Montgomery Thomas W. Hawkins, Jr. (CN 6108)(B)
Judge S. John Cottone Lackawanna David Chmiel (AY 5667)(W)
Judge James Diefenderfer Lehigh Kenneth J. Williams (BB 1977)(W)
Judge Ernest DiSantis, Jr. Erie Stephen E. Treiber (FD 8026)(W)
Judge Cyrus Dolbin Schulkill Daniel Saranchak (CM 8666)(W)(2DS)
Judge Sherly Dorney York Kevin B. Dowling (DY 6243)(W)
Milton Montalvo (EF 2623)(H)(2DS)
Noel Mantalvo (FH 9391)(H)
Judge Doyle Blair Andre Staton (GR 3024)(B)
Judge Robert Eby Lebanon Carolyn King (OC 7210) (B)
Bradley A.Martin (CP 3206) (W)
Freeman W. May (AK 7516)(W)
Judge Feudale Bradford Dustin F. Briggs (GN 8696)(W)
Judge Fisher Erie David C. Copenhefer (AJ 3408)(W)
Judge James Fitzgerald Philadelphia Kenneth Miller (EC 6130)(B)(2DS)
Judge Foradora Jefferson Robert G. Rega (FA 4771)(W)
Judge William Ford Lehigh Ramon Sanchez (FH 7056)(B)
Judge Michael Franciosa Wayne Michael Conforti (BQ 0537)(W)
Judge William J. Franks Fayette Mark D. Breakiron (AJ 1790)(W)
Judge Isaac Garb Bucks Jerome J. Gibson (CS 4482)(B)
Judge Thomas Gavin Chester Robert Hughes (BC 8234)(W)(2DS)
Judge Geisz Philadelphia Joseph J. Kindler (BQ 3190)(W)
James Lambert (AK 7472)(B)
Robert Lark (AM 4192)(B)
Judge Gelfand Philadelphia James M. Smith (AY 4901)(B)
Raymond Whitney (AM 7655)(B)
Judge Steven Geroff Philadelphia Wilfredo Ramos (ED 0081)(H)
Judge Gary Glazer Philadelphia Christopher Roney (DF 1973)(B)
Judge Jane Greenspan 1 Philadelphia Willie Cooper (FQ 5729) (B)
Lester Fletcher (FB 8882)(B)
Ronald Hanible (EE 9272)(B)
Antione Ligons (DX 1687)(B)
Judge Halbert Philadelphia Robert E. Douglas (AY 3357)(B)
Donetta Hill (OB 4096)(B)(2DS)
Judge Frank Hazel Delaware Arthur J. Bomar (DK 1677)(B)
Angel L. Reyes (CG 0732)(H)
Judge Douglas Herman Franklin Michael B. Singley (EP 2753)(W)
Judge Kevin Hess Cumberland Seifullah Abdul-Salaam (CS 6716)(B)
Judge George Hoffer Cumberland William Housman (EX 0456)(W)
Beth A. Markman (OG 3739)(W)
Judge Todd Hoover Dauphin Samuel B. Randolph (FJ 5881)(B)
Judge Renee Hughes 2 Philadelphia Lance Arrington (ED 9473)(B)
Billy Brooks (BV 3623) (B)
Jerry Chambers (GF 1954)(B)
Daniel Dougherty (EK 7623) (W)(2DS)
Judge Ivins Philadelphia Carmen J. Damato (AY 2878)(W)
Richard D. Hachett (AS 1465)(W)
Donald Hardcastle (AY 6472) (B)(2DS)
Willie Sneed (DZ 2440)(B)
Judge Jackson Philadelphia Charles Brown (AF 4956)(B)
Ronald Gibson (BQ 5220) (B) (2DS)
Emanual Lester (BS 0997)(B)
Isaac Mitchell (EG 7580) (B)(2DS)
Judge C. Darnell Jones Philadelphia Lenwood Mason (CY 4048)(B)
Timothy Rice (DV 2363) (B)
Judge Scott Keller Berks Shawnfatee M. Bridges (DQ 0272)(B)(2DS)
Jose Busanet (DX 0422) (H)
Roderick A. Johnson (DN 0530) (B)(2DS)
David A. Sattazahn (BT 7445)(W)
Judge Kubacki Philadelphia Willie Clayton (AM 6064)(B)
William Holland (AY 6425)(W)
Judge Robert Kunselman Beaver Andre Stevens (CC 0246)(W)(2DS)
Judge Latrone Philadelphia Robert Cook (A 0603)(B)
Russell Cox (AS 0394) (B) (2DS)
Damon Jones (AY2893)(B)(2DS)
James Jones (AY 5212)(B)
Mikal Moore (EA 9791)(B)
Craig Murphy (AY 2939) (B)
Donyell Paddy (CX 3459) (B)
Jose Pagan (BN 0602) (H)
Ralph T. Stokes (AY 9034) (B)(3DS)
Judge Lawrence Montgomery Thomas J. Meadows (BL 5087)(B)
Judge Anne LazarusPhiladelphia Steven Hutchinson (EC 3986)(B)
Judge LewisPhiladelphia William Rivera (DN 4295)(H)
Judge Stephen Liberman Berks Richard Boxley (EL 5206)(B)
Raymond Johnson (EL 5198)(B)
Judge James Lineberger Philadelphia Kenneth T. Brown (DQ 1006)(B)
Bernard Cousar (EQ 1988)(B)(2DS)
Jose Dejesus (DS 0256)(H)
Junious Diggs (FS 1123)(B)
Lemont Overby (DS 1648)(B)
Judge Gerald Long Cambria Stephen Edmiston (BC 7886)(W)
Judge Joseph Madenspacher Lancaster Tedor Davido (EW 4765)(W)
Judge Malmed Philadelphia Brian Thomas (AY 7427)(B)
Judge Jeffrey Manning Allegheny Richard S. Baumhammers (ET 8465) (W)(5DS)
Kenneth Hairston (FA 9174)(B)(2DS)
Thomas McCullum (BC 7381)(B)
Salvador Santiago (CD 3040)(B)
Gerald Watkins (DD 5212)(B)(3DS)
Judge William Mazzola Philadelphia Gregory Powell (EL 7745)(B)
Judge McCrudden Philadelphia Leroy Thomas (AM 2728)(B)
Judge Mellenberg Lehigh Ronald Rompilla (AS 2057)(W)
Judge Munley Lackawanna Steven Duffey (AY 7374)(W)
Judge Scott Naus Columbia Tony Drumheller (EM 8840)(W)
Judge W. Terrence O'Brien Allegheny Robert Bryant (AF 2849)(B)
Judge Lawrence J. O'Toole Allegheny Ronald Taylor (EX 2412)(B)(3DC)
Connie J. Williams (EY 4783)(B)
Judge Stanley Ott Montgomery Antuan Bronshtein (BU 0261)(W)
Darrick U. Hall (CP 0193)(B)
Judge John Poserina Philadelphia Jermont Cox (CE 8242) (B)
Robert Freeman (DQ 5534) (B)
Melvin K. Howard (BB 8059)(B)
William Johnson (BV 9366) (B)
Aaron C. Jones (BL 0480) (B)
Michael Rainey (BT 1478)(B)
Jose Uderra (CC 3832)(H)
Anthony Washington (CN 6937)(B)
Roy L. Williams (CF 4784)(B)
Judge Paul Pozonsky Washington Michelle S. Tharp (OF 6593)(W)
Judge Samuel Ranck Northumberland Kevin J. Marinelli (CT 9974)(W)
Judge Rauschenberger Butler Donald M. Tedford (AP 1138)(W)
Judge Robert Reed Beaver Charles E. Cross (AP 6330)(W)(3DS)
Judge Edward Reibman Lehigh Raymond Solano (FK 6135)(H)
Judge John Reilly Clearfield Daniel L. Crispell (BH 8972)(W)
Judge Ribner Philadelphia John W. Brown (BP 1313)(B)
Samuel Carson (CU7977)(B)
Ronald Clark (CP 5079) (B)
Joseph A. Elliott (CA 1717)(B)
William R. Gribble (CC 7649) (W)
Derrick G. Ragan (BN 8022)(B)
Miguel Rios (CC 5445)(H)
John Wayne (CU 9870)(B)
Christopher Williams (BT 3553)(B)(2DS)
Judge Howard Riley Chester Dennis L. Miller (DL 1249)(W)
Judge W. Parker Ruddock Indiana Ronald L. Weiss (BS 9390)(W)
Judge John Rufe Bucks Alfred J. Albecht (AM 3629)(W)
Judge Sabo3 Philadelphia Mumia Abu-Jamal (AM 8335)(B)
Lee Baker (AY 4471)(B)
Leslie Beasley (AM 5208)(B)(2DS)
Henry Daniels (BC 7615)(B)
Henry P. Fahy (AM 5999)(W)
Roger Judge (DT 6550) (B) (2DS)
Reginald Lewis (AY 2902)(B)
Cam Ly (AS 1690)(O)
Jerry J. Marshall, Jr. (BC 2494)(B)(2DS)
Kelvin T. Morris (AS 1924)(B)
Kevin Pelzer (BC 9251)(B)
Al Peoples (EG 0648)(B)
Simon Pirela (AM 9157)(B)(2DS)
Ernest Porter (AY 7434)(B)
Anthony Reid (BF 6567)(B) (2DS)
Saharris Rollins (AY 8832)(B)
Sam Thavirak (BN 6754)(O)(3DS)
William Tilley (AY 9893) (W)
Herbert Watson (AY 3075) (B)
Zachary Wilson (AM 8465)(B)
Judge Robert B. Sacavage Northumberland James Frey (GD 5345)(W)
Judge Samuel Salus Montgomery Robert Fisher (AS 1738)(B)
Judge M. Teresa Sarmina Philadelphia Lavar Brown (FZ 8925)(B)
Darien Houser (GL 7509)(B)
Christopher Kennedy (FQ 9268)(B)
Judge David Savitt Philadelphia Jesse Bond (BZ 2493)(B)
Daniel Gwynn (CW 5713) (B)
Ricardo Natividad (DL 3766)(B)
Michael P. Pierce (BJ 2514)(W)(3DS)
Rasheen L. Simpson (CT 1781)(B)
Melvin Speight (CC 6923)(B)
Vinson Washington (CQ 0657) (B)(2DS)
Terrance Williams (AY 3626)(B)
Judge Richard N. Saxton Clinton Shonda D. Walter (OJ 8227)(B)
Judge Forrest Schaeffer Berks Randy T. Haag (AK 7856)(W)
Ronald F. Puksar (CF 1648) (W)
Judge Semerano Delaware Wayne Smith (CU 0529)(B)
Judge Jeffrey Smith Bradford Terry R. Chamberlain (CL 6265)(W)(2DS)
John J. Koehler, Jr. (CZ 3217)(W)
Judge Albert A. Stallone Berks Michael Pruitt (GF 1448)(B)
Judge Lawrence Stengel Lancaster Landon D. May (FJ 4637)(W)(2DS)
Judge Stiles Philadelphia Craig Williams (BX 9919)(B)
Judge Stout Philadelphia Ralph Birdsong (AF 9092)(B)(2DS)
Rodney Collins (CW 4923) (B)
Dewitt Crawley (AY 5346)(B)(3DS)
Walter Ogrod (DC 4162)(W)
Bortella Philisten (DD 4916)(B)
Judge Swope Cambria Ernest Simmons (CJ 2106)(B)
Judge Patrick Toole Luzerne George E. Banks4 (AY 6066)(B)(12DG}
Michael Bardo (CP 9596)(W)
James L. Strong (AY 6551)(W)
Judge Ronald Vican Monroe Manuel M. Sepulveda (FH 1368)(H)(3DS)
Judge John Wagner Fayette Mark D. Edwards, Jr. (FT 8091)(B)(3DS)
Judge John Walker Franklin Albert E. Reid (DU 1376)(B)
Judge Thomas Wallitsch Lehigh George I. Lopez (CZ 3198)(H)
Edwin R. Romero (CZ 3206)(H)
Judge Sheila A. Woods-Skipper Philadelphia Aquil Bond (GH 1499)(B)
Christopher Smith (FX 4208)(B)
Judge Young Lehigh Harvey M. Robinson (CJ 8032)(W)(3DS)
TOTAL:
101 Judges 		TOTAL:
36 of 67
Counties
Breakdown of most bloodthirsty. 		TOTAL:
Condemned=220 human beings
Afro-Americans=134
Whites=67
Hispanics=17
Orientals/Asians=2
Males=215
Females=5

CONTACT INFORMATION:

If you wish to help some of these prisoners, to write or send cards to them, or to have books sent, you should:

Legend and Footnotes

(B)=Black, (H)=Hispanic, (O)=Oriental/Asian, (W)=White

(2DS)=2 Death sentences, (3DS)=3 Death sentences, (4DS)=4 Death sentences
(5DS)=5 Death sentences, (12DS)=12 Death sentences

1The deadliest woman in Pennsylvania.
2The deadliest black woman in Pennsylvania.
3By far the deadliest judge in Pennsylvania history. No judge in America in modern time matches his record for giving death sentences. Many of his sentences have been over turned. Almost all have been young black men. The butcher is now off the bench.
4George Banks was a Pennsylvania state prison guard when he slaughtered his family and mistress. He is apparently insane, but faces 12 death sentences. That's a Pennsylvania record. Be wiry of prison guards. Many of them are not of sound mind.

Go on to the table of bloodthirsty counties which give the death sentence.

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"Turn it up to 5!"
A Frackville state prison guard
describing what to do with a shock collar,
27 June 2004

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