STEPHEN REX EDMISTON | Pennsylvania Death Row | Convicted of First Degree Murder for the malicious and gruesome murder of two-year-old Bobbi Jo Matthew in October of 1988 | ALS

Stephen Edmiston. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Collegeville PA. Pmk: September 27, 2023. Content unknown. SEALED.

Edmiston, 65, of Petersburg, PA, was found guilty of first-degree murder, rape, statutory rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a two-year-old female child.

Bobbi Jo Matthew was abducted from her bed in the early morning hours of Oct. 5. Edmiston, an acquaintance of the child’s parents and a former lover of her grandmother, was questioned by state police in connection with her disappearance. He drew police a map with an “X” marking the spot where her raped and lifeless body was found.

Edmiston raped the child and scalped her and fractured her skull. She also had a puncture wound in her chest, and burns on her face and chest. Prosecutors have theorized the puncture and burns were the result of her attempt to escape Edmiston after the sexual assault by crawling under his vehicle, where she was burned and wounded by the vehicle’s hot catalytic convertor.

The prosecution, represented by Cambria County District Attorney Timothy Creaney, is seeking the death penalty on the grounds that the murder was committed by means of torture and while in the course of the sexual offenses, which are felonies.

The record reflects that appellant committed the heinous acts designed to produce death and intended to commit those acts. Here, a two-year-old girl, weighing thirty-four pounds and standing thirty-six inches tall, suffered the following serious injuries: scalping, blunt force to her torso, obliteration of her genital area, burning of her body and a skull fracture. She was scalped by being cut with a sharp knife-like instrument from the ear up across the front hair line of her forehead and down to the other ear. Her scalp was then peeled back to the nape of her head exposing the entire skull. Blunt force trauma to her chest and stomach was so forceful that it caused the tearing of her liver and lungs. This force was also one of two possible causes of two feet of the infant's intestines to protrude from her genital area. (The other possible cause was pulling the intestines out of the genital area). The genital area of the two-year-old child was completely obliterated and ripped to such an extent that there was only one large and bloody cavity where there originally were the anal and vaginal orifices. There were also areas of burning of the infant's body, many other lacerations and abrasions and a skull fracture. Medical opinions proved that both the anus and vaginal tracts had been penetrated by a penis to prove rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.ⁱ

Edmiston, who appeared in the courtroom unshaven and with long, lank hair throughout the jury selection proceedings Monday and Tuesday, had a shower, shave and haircut during the lunch recess Wednesday. His mother had accused authorities at Northampton County Prison of withholding grooming opportunities, but authorities said Edmiston refused those he was offered.

Edmiston was held in administrative segregation during his stay at the prison for his safety. Child molesters frequently are targeted for abuse by other prison inmates.

VIDEO: Mother of slain 2-year-old speaks out as killer's execution warrant is signed | https://youtu.be/lRpC-IG9UBE

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