PA - Mark “Markie” Mason, 8, fatally stabbed in front of brothers by mother's boyfriend, Lawrence County, 8 July 2019 *Arrest*

[PastTense]

"A man suspected of stabbing an 8-year-old boy to death Monday night in Lawrence County was arrested Tuesday in Ohio.

Police said that Keith Burley, 43, of Edinburg, stabbed the boy multiple times in front of his three brothers, telling him to “die” as he did so. Police identified the child as Mark Edward Mason. U.S. Marshals from Pittsburgh and Youngstown tracked Burley to Youngstown where he was arrested.

According to online court records, Burley pleaded guilty to a third-degree murder charge and firearms violation in December 1999...

They [Mark's brothers] then saw Burley stabbing Mark with a knife, the complaint said. The children told police they ran to a nearby house and told a person there to call 911. They told police they saw Burley running from their house.

Police said the stabbing occurred shortly after a fight between Burley and the child’s mother inside her car. According to police, Burley struck the woman in the face multiple times as they argued over their cellphones."
Suspect arrested in fatal stabbing of boy in Lawrence County | TribLIVE.com

 

[kaen]

What the heck is wrong with people? A fight over a cell phone causes a man to stab and 8 year old and say "die". SMDH.

 

[PastTense]

""He was my life, I keep getting choked up every time I talk like this," Markie's father, Mark Mason, said.

Burley had just been released from prison in March after serving a 20-year sentence for murder. "I warned her. I said, 'If you want to date him, that’s fine, but just keep him away from my kids,'" Mason said.

Markie's brother Matthew was there at the time of the violent attack, but made it out of the home safely. "He told me that Markie told him to run while he was fighting Keith, and Matthew threw a chair at him and ran," Mason said. "If he wouldn’t of ran, I believe he would’ve killed both my boys.""
MARK MASON: 8-year-old was heroic brother until final moments before being killed, father says


"The man charged in the stabbing death of an 8-year-old boy in New Castle earlier this week was in an Ohio courtroom Thursday morning for his extradition hearing.

Keith Burley, 43, was captured by U.S. Marshals on Tuesday in Youngstown. Since then, he’s been held in jail there.

In court this morning, Burley waived his hearing. He will now be sent back to Pennsylvania to face charges in the stabbing of 8-year-old Mark Mason."
Suspect In 8-Year-Old Boy’s Stabbing Waives Extradition Hearing, Headed Back To Pa.

 

[tara83]

The mom should also face charges IMO.The man is a convicted killer and she thinks it's a good plan to allow him around her innocent children?

 

[CaliRoses]

DA to seek death penalty in boy’s murder

BBM

NEW CASTLE — Lawrence County’s district attorney said he intends to pursue the death penalty against Keith L. Burley Jr., who is accused in the stabbing death of an 8-year-old boy Monday in Union Township

Burley was arrested Tuesday morning in Youngstown following the fatal stabbing of Mark Edward Mason. The homicide took place in the presence of three other boys who were inside the house on High Street where the attack occurred. The other boys witnessed the stabbing but escaped.


“I can’t get into specific details,” Josh Lamancusa said Wednesday. “But I can share that this little boy died a hero, saving his brother and the other children in the house.”

.....

An angry Lamancusa said that he has contacted the governor’s office, demanding to know why Burley was released from state prison a couple of months ago after serving only the minimum sentence for a previous homicide conviction, when he also has a trail of convictions of other violent crimes, some involving guns.

Burley also has a conviction for having stabbed an inmate in the neck in the Lawrence County jail in 2002.

.....

According to a 1999 police report provided by New Castle police Chief Bobby Salem, Burley initially faced 90 different charges in the Stewart shooting, including homicide and robbery, but he entered a guilty plea to one count each of third-degree murder and having a gun without a license. He was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in a state correctional institution as a result.

Much more at link

 

[Valiant]

The mother hasn't spoken to a reported as far as I can tell. In fact, there has been little about the family background.
This was a tragedy, but one that could easily have been prevented.

 

[JerseyGirl]

From Jan 2020:

DA, public defender meet to discuss next steps in Burley case

 

[JerseyGirl]

Father pushing for new parole law after 8-year-old son is killed, legislation heads to Harrisburg

When you look at a picture of Markie Mason, his 8-year-old personality jumps out.

news.yahoo.com