Bio

Keith William Zettlemoyer was born on June 4, 1955, in Aberdeen, Maryland. He was the oldest of five children and had four younger sisters. Growing up in a large family, he experienced a typical childhood in his community.

In his early years, Zettlemoyer tried to join the army but was not successful. After that, he held several different jobs. He worked as a photographer, custodian, and maintenance worker. These jobs varied and showed that he was willing to try new things.

Details about his life during his youth and teenage years are not well-documented. However, his experiences during this time may have played a role in shaping his later actions. Despite his various jobs, he struggled to find stability in his life.

Zettlemoyer's early life laid the foundation for the events that would follow, but specific details about his personal relationships and experiences during this time remain limited.

Murder Story

In the early morning hours of October 13, 1980, police officers patrolling Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, heard gunfire near a wooded area. As they approached, they found a parked 1967 Ford van on a dirt road. When they heard rustling noises, they ordered the person inside to come out. Keith Zettlemoyer emerged, holding a handgun and a flashlight. He claimed he had been shooting rats, but the officers were suspicious. They ordered him to drop the gun, and he was arrested.

One of the officers searched the area and discovered the body of 29-year-old Charles DeVetsco. DeVetsco had been shot four times. It was later confirmed that he had been shot twice in the van while handcuffed and then dragged to the woods where two more shots were fired. The cause of death was determined to be massive hemorrhaging due to .357 Magnum bullets hitting his heart.

Zettlemoyer and DeVetsco had worked together at a retail store. DeVetsco was set to testify against Zettlemoyer in a robbery case. Zettlemoyer had committed a robbery in May 1980, during which he and an accomplice had tied up a security guard and stolen valuable electronic equipment. His accomplice was caught and informed the authorities about Zettlemoyer. Fearing DeVetsco would testify against him, Zettlemoyer kidnapped him, killed him, and tried to cover it up.

On April 24, 1981, Zettlemoyer was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. After fourteen years on death row, he decided to abandon his appeals and requested execution. He claimed he suffered from "brain disease" and wanted his life to end. Although some argued that he was not mentally competent, three psychiatrists testified that he was sane.

Governor Tom Ridge signed Zettlemoyer’s death warrant, and he was scheduled for execution on May 2, 1995. Zettlemoyer was executed by lethal injection at the State Correctional Institution – Rockview. His last meal consisted of two cheeseburgers, french fries, chocolate pudding, and chocolate milk. He became the first person executed in Pennsylvania after the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.