Scott Wholaver was sentenced in front of a packed house in Dauphin County Court Thursday for his role in a triple murder.
Ernest Wholaver has been convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of his wife and 2 daughters, and his brother Scott pleaded guilty to helping with the crime.
But some say Scott was a victim, too.
He walked into the courthouse with his head hung low, posture a reflection of how he feels about the actions that got him there.
“He’s been serving a life sentence within himself ever since this occurred,” said attorney Justin McShane.
Scott was sentenced to between 12 1/2 and 25 years in prison for aiding his brother in the 2002 Christmas Eve murders of Ernest’s estranged wife Jean and his two daughters, Victoria, third degree murder, burglary and conspiracy.
“He has to answer for his part in it, because he drove…because he made that trip, three people are dead,” said Deputy District Attorney Fran Chardo.
Scott Wholaver was sentenced as part of a plea agreement that required him to cooperate in the trial against his brother.
As the “lynchpin and foundation” of the prosecution’s case, he did just that, turning against the man who had controlled him provide some of the most damning evidence.
“His biggest regret in his entire life is that he didn’t have the courage to stand up to his over demanding brother,” said McShane.
The Wholaver family was very emotional during Wednesday’s sentencing.
Scott and Ernest’s mother, along with their brother, Ray, were all in the courtroom during the proceedings.
They cried openly as a letter from Ernest Wholaver, Sr. was read.
It said Scott was someone who always tried to help others… and that’s what landed him in trouble.
“There’s no one in this family that wanted this to occur,” said Ray Wholaver. “There’s a lot of people who don’t understand how much we miss and love everybody.”
Because of the seriousness of the crime, Wholaver’s attorney says he expects Scott will serve a majority of his sentence.
Meanwhile, Ernest Wholaver’s death sentence is being appealed in State Supreme Court.
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