This is an undated photo of Marchello Woodard, victim of a fatal shooting by Pennsylvania parole agents on July 2, displayed during a birthday celebration of his life in Erie on July 22, 2025. Roughly 75 friends and family gathered in front of the Erie County Courthouse to reminisce and to discuss the ongoing investigation into the shooting.
GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS FI
USA TODAY Network, Reuters
Charges in the death of 43-year-old Marchello D. Woodard came more than five months after the incident. On Dec. 19, Pennsylvania state parole agent Kevin J. Seelinger, 35, of Edinboro, was charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
Here is a timeline of the Woodard case, from the incident to the start of the trial.
July 2, 2025 – The shooting
Marchello D. Woodard, 43, is fatally shot by a Pennsylvania state parole agent during an encounter in Erie, prompting immediate community calls for transparency and accountability.
July 5, 2025 – Vigils and protests begin
Community members rallied on July 5 to seek justice for Woodard. This was the first of multiple community demonstrations.
July 10, 2025 – Family challenges official account
Woodard’s family publicly disputes the state police narrative, sharing video and witness testimony that contradicts the official account. The family also claims a lack of transparency in the probe, and warns that “unrest and outcry will likely worsen” if demands not met.
July 14-16, 2025 – City council, public pressure intensify
Dozens of citizens, including Woodard’s father, address Erie City Council, urging for accountability and demanding more transparency in the investigation.
July 21-22, 2025 – Family demands murder charge
Woodard’s family issues a statement July 21, a day before what would have been Woodard’s 44th birthday, calling the death “deliberate and unjust,” saying murder charges are “non‑negotiable.”
July 22, 2025 – Search warrants detail fatal shooting of Erie parolee
The search warrants and their affidavits of probable cause, which the Erie Times-News obtained, support the state police’s preliminary finding that the parole agent shot Woodard as that agent was hanging on to Woodard’s car as Woodard drove away.
The primary source for the information in the search warrants and the affidavits is a person who is close to Woodard and his family – his live-in girlfriend, who resides across the street from the spot where Woodard was shot.
July 30, 2025 – Take Back the Site vigil
The gathering was part of a Take Back the Site vigil – brief ceremonies sponsored by the Benedictine Sisters of Erie and Oblates, Sisters of St. Joseph and Agrégées and Sisters of Mercy and Associates. The vigils are held at the site of all deaths in the city and Millcreek that are ruled homicides.
Fall 2025 – Investigation remains ongoing
District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz provides multiple updates, emphasizing the investigation remains a top priority, five months after Woodard was fatally shot. She reports reviewing evidence from state police and continuing follow‑ups.
Dec. 2, 2025 – DA says investigation still active
In a statement to the Erie Times-News on Dec. 2, 2025, Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz provided no timeline on when her office expects to decide on whether to file charges over Woodard’s death. She said the case is her office’s “top priority” and that her office and the Pennsylvania State Police continue to review evidence.
Dec. 19, 2025 – Parole agent charged with homicide
Pennsylvania state parole officer Kevin J. Seelinger, 35, is charged with criminal homicide, along with aggravated assault and related offenses.
Dec. 22, 2025 – Criminal complaint offers few details
The criminal complaint offers few details in homicide case against parole agent in fatal Erie shooting, and the affidavit does not address earlier claims the parole officer was dragged as shooting victim Marchello Woodard drove away.
Dec. 29, 2025 – DA, defense clash over charges
The district attorney and defense spar over whether first‑degree murder is supported by facts. The District Attorney’s Office is contending that Woodard’s death could have been the result of a murder – including the possibility of first-degree murder, an intentional killing.
The defense claims Seelinger should at least not face a first-degree murder charge.
Bond is denied for Seelinger due to the severity of potential charges.
Jan. 21, 2026 – Preliminary hearing
All the charges against Seelinger are held for court at a preliminary hearing at the Erie County Courthouse before Greene Township District Judge Susan Strohmeyer. The original district judge on the case, Paul Bizzarro, of Erie’s 5th Ward, recused himself, citing his former job as an Erie police detective.
The District Attorney’s Office presents no specific evidence at the preliminary hearing about why it believes a charge could include first-degree murder. The case heads to Erie County Common Pleas Court.
Feb. 6, 2026 – Formal court arraignment scheduled
Erie County Judge John J. Trucilla, who is assigned the case, schedules Seelinger’s formal arraignment for Feb. 17. The arraignment sets in motion the timeline for the case, including setting deadlines for the filing of pretrial motions.
Feb. 17, 2026 – Formal court arraignment
District Attorney Hirz said at the arraignment that she will seek a conviction for first-degree murder against Seelinger, who appeared at the hearing and said he understood his rights. Judge Trucilla set a tentative trial date for Oct. 5.
March 19, 2026 – First pretrial hearing
Trucilla rejects a defense request that he toss the first-degree murder charge for lack of evidence.
He agrees with Hirz that Pennsylvania law allows a defendant to be charged with an intentional killing if a deadly weapon was used to inflict a fatal wound on a vital organ. Woodard was shot in the back, with a bullet striking his left lung.
Sept. 24, 2026 – Second pretrial hearing
Trucilla reviews the motions in limine from the prosecution and defense. He rules in favor of some requests and against others in preparation for trial.
Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 2026 – Jury selection
Trucilla and the prosecution and defense select 16 jurors over two days, with eight picked on each day. The panel consists of 16 people: 12 jurors and four alternates, instead of the usual two alternate jurors seated in major Erie County cases.
A total of 62 potential jurors were questioned in the selection of the 16 seated jurors. Twenty-eight potential jurors went through the selection process on Sept. 30 and another 34 on Oct. 1.
Oct. 5, 2026 – Opening statements and testimony at trial
The prosecution and defense are scheduled to give their opening statements shortly after 9 a.m. on Oct. 5 before the jury and Trucilla.
Hirz is prosecuting the case along with two of her top assistants: First Assistant District Attorney Jessica Reger and Chief Deputy District Attorney Steven Liboski. Seelinger’s lawyers are Chad Vilushis and Douglas McCormick.
The trial is expected to last at least a week and could run as long as Oct. 14, according to court administration.
The trial will unfold in the historic 250-seat Courtroom H, the largest courtroom at the Erie County Courthouse. Trucilla is using Courtroom H rather than his smaller courtroom to accommodate the large number of attendees expected at Seelinger’s trial.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Timeline: How the Marchello Woodard case unfolded in Erie
Reporting by Staff Reports, Erie Times-News / Erie Times-News
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This story was originally published October 2, 2026 at 5:25 PM.