North Union man given life sentence in woman蘑菇视频 shooting death
A North Union Township man will spend the rest of his life in prison for fatally shooting a woman in her home in 2020.
Following a trial last week, Joseph Michael Thomas Jr., 39, was convicted of first-degree murder for killing Meghan Masi, 28, on Nov. 20 at her home in North Union Township. Authorities were never able to determine a motive for the shooting, but said Thomas’ DNA and cellphone data connected him to Masi’s death.
Masi’s parents Charles Mcclain and Cherri Lucas each offered victim impact statements before Thomas was sentenced.
Mcclain said he had a prepared statement, but decided to speak candidly as he described the devastation he and his family have felt over the past four years.
“You took my only daughter,” Mcclain said. “She had a daughter too, and you ruined her life.”
It appeared as if Mcclain was trying to hold back tears but was ultimately unable to as he directed his words toward the man who murdered his daughter.
“God might forgive you, but I won’t forgive you,” Mcclain said as his voice started to shake. “Wherever you go, whatever happens to you, you deserve it.”
Lucas said she had fallen on dark times since Masi’s death and was looking forward to spending her retirement with her daughter and five-year-old granddaughter.
“My retirement was planned around her, now I don’t get to do that,” Lucas said.
Lucas also addressed Thomas, emphasising the traumatic experience and what it was like seeing discovering her daughter’s dead body while her grandchild was in another room.
“It’s unnatural to lose a child, you always think you’re going to go first, but it’s another thing to see her in the bedroom with her head blown off and her brains splattered,” Lucas said.
Thomas did not offer a statement before he was sentenced. When Judge Mark Mehalov asked Thomas if he understood the sentence that was imposed, Thomas asked to speak to the judge “on the record.”
Mehalov denied the request.
“That’s not the time to speak,” he said.
This was the second time Thomas was tried in Masi’s death. In January, a judge declared a mistrial when jurors could not reach a verdict in the case.
“We are glad to finally bring this resolution after more than four years,” said Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele. “This was a lot of hard work by the Pennsylvania State Police as well as the members of the previous administration.”
Thomas’ defense attorney Brent Peck did not return a call for comment.