Kevin Seelinger, the Pennsylvania Parole officer accused of shooting and killing Marchello Woodard last July faced his formal arraignment in Erie County Court on Tuesday.
During the arraignment at 9:00 in the morning in Judge John Trucilla’s courtroom, Seelinger was read and waived his rights. The parole officer who is suspended without pay said he understood the charges, and waived a further explanation.
Judge Trucilla asked the District Attorney’s office which degree of murder they are pursuing. The response from District Attorney Beth Hirz is a first degree for murder conviction.
Craig Woodard Sr., a family member said, “We really want to say thank you to the Erie community and surrounding areas. And we have been working to get this story nationwide as well.”
Woodard said he is pleased with how the case is progressing so far, “We would love to have a lot more transparency through a lot of sources at the beginning of this. But where we are at right now, we are blessed to be at. It’s going to be a marathon not a sprint, and hopefully justice will continued to be served.”
So for now, the court will not set bond or bail for Seelinger.
His Defense Attorney, Chad Vilushis told Erie News Now that “The arraignment went as I expected and said he will be filing the appropriate motions very soon.”
The trial is set for October.