In a filing posted yesterday, Indiana County Judge Thomas Bianco set a hearing date for David Yingling petition for post-conviction relief of his murder conviction.
The 64-year-old David Yingling was sentenced last year to serve 17-and-a-half to 35 years in prison for third degree murder in the shooting death of his housemate in April of 2016.
Yingling shot 50-year-old Elwood Skillman as Skillman slept, and left the body lying in its bed for several days before police arrived. He said he shot Skillman because he’d been bullying Yingling’s mentally-disabled younger brother, who also lived in the home in a wooded area near Arcadia.
Post-conviction relief could reduce Yingling’s sentence, or even lead to his release from prison. Judge Bianco has scheduled a hearing on Yingling’s petition for August 27th.
