Killed his mother and stepfather in their Penn Hills home Man guilty in dismemberment

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A jury deliberated less than three hours Tuesday before finding a man guilty of killing his mother and stepfather in their Penn Hills home nearly two years ago.

Frederick Harris III, 49, also was found guilty of abuse of a corpse for the stabbing deaths and dismemberment of Olivia Gilbert, 73, and her husband, Lamar Gilbert, 76.

Mr. Harris will be sentenced Jan. 3 by Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski to a mandatory prison term of life without parole.

Prosecutors said Mr. Harris went to his mother’s home on Suncrest Drive sometime during the afternoon of Dec. 13, 2014, and killed the couple. Then, using a set of kitchen knives, he cut apart their bodies, placing the parts in several garbage bags and cans in their garage.

Their bodies were found Dec. 16 after Ms. Gilbert’s daughter contacted police, saying she hadn’t heard from her mother.

When police entered the home, Mr. Harris was in his mother’s bed, under the covers. He refused to speak and was taken to a hospital.

Evidence in the case showed that Mr. Harris went to a Home Depot to buy four rolling trash cans and also bought a set of kitchen knives and Nike sneakers in the three days after the killings. He also used his mother’s ATM card to withdraw cash.

His fingerprints were found on the knots of two garbage bags, as well as on packing tape securing them, police said.

The defense alleged that it was Mr. Harris’ sister, Angela Harris, who killed the couple, citing her mental illness and that she had previously harmed two of her own cats while off her medication.