Pennsylvania man re-sentenced to life without parole for 1973 murders of infant, toddler in westmoreland county

HARRISBURG, PA — A Westmoreland County judge has re-sentenced John Veltre, 69, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 1973 murders of two young children and the brutal assault of their mother, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Thursday.

Veltre was 16 years old at the time of the crimes and was originally sentenced to two mandatory life terms. His case was eligible for review under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling requiring the reconsideration of all mandatory life sentences imposed on juveniles.

The Office of Attorney General argued against any sentence reduction, citing the brutality of the crime and Veltre’s failure to accept full responsibility. The court agreed and re-imposed life without parole on June 27.

In the 1973 case, Veltre entered the home of a young mother, raped and assaulted her, then killed her infant and two-year-old daughters by blunt force trauma. The mother survived the attack.

“I am an advocate for second chances when they are appropriate — however, some crimes are just too heinous and harmful to the community to warrant relief,” Attorney General Sunday said.

Officials emphasized that the re-sentencing was conducted under full judicial review, as required by federal precedent, and that Veltre remains a threat to public safety.

The decision keeps Veltre incarcerated for the remainder of his life, with no opportunity for release.

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