Bucks Co. Man Who Shot Grandparents As A Teen Resentenced

A Bucks County man who was a teen when he shot and killed his grandparents has been resentenced to serve 45 years to life in state prison, authorities with the Bucks County District Attorney's office said.

Richard Mazeffa, who was 17 when he murdered his grandparents in their Warrington Township home in 1986, is now 50 years old. He will be eligible for parole in 13 years.

Mazeffa is now the fifth of six inmates from Bucks County serving mandatory life sentences for murders committed as juveniles to receive adjusted punishments. Each has received a reduction that will give them a chance later in life to be paroled into the community.

"Such proceedings are being held throughout Pennsylvania as a result of recent federal and state appellate court decisions. Those decisions declared mandatory life sentences for juveniles to be unconstitutional, requiring new hearings to reconsider those sentences," the Bucks County District Attorney's Office said.

On July 14, 1986, Mazeffa shot his grandparents with one blast each as they sat together in the living room. He later told investigators the shooting happened after his grandfather had ordered him to push a broken-down car out of the garage.

After he shot them, Mazeffa tried to stage the scene as a robbery, cutting his grandfather’s wallet out of his pocket, turning up the television volume and removing some jewelry before calling 911.

Mazeffa is now described by the DA's office as "a well-read, solitary man with an uncommonly high I.Q."

He told Bucks County Common Pleas Court Judge Rea B. Boylan during his hearing last week that he is a different person from the angry teenager who committed “cruel, selfish and heartless” acts.

In his 32 years behind bars, he has no misconducts. He has spent most of his time reading nonfiction, playing chess and working in the prison library, authorities said.

According to the District Attorney's office, Mazeffa’s family is divided over what should be done with him.

His uncle, George Mazeffa, said he has “significant concerns about the safety of my family and the extended family” if his nephew were released. However, his brother, the co-owner of a West Coast software company, said he would feel comfortable hiring Richard after prison.

Mazeffa’s father, also named Richard, said his son “understands the severity of the crime,” but was noncommittal about how soon he should be released. “There’s no good answer,” he said.

Boylan imposed concurrent 45-year to life sentences, one for each murder, and ordered that Mazeffa receive psychological treatment prior to becoming eligible for parole. She also ordered him to have no contact with all members of his family who do not want to see or hear from him.

Image via Bucks DA