Bio

Mark Newton Spotz was born on February 14, 1971. He grew up in Pennsylvania, but little is known about his early life and family background. He had at least one brother, Dustin Spotz.

Mark's life changed dramatically when he encountered difficulties within his family. On January 31, 1995, a family argument escalated at their mother's house in Clearfield County. During this incident, Mark shot and killed his brother, Dustin. This tragic event marked a turning point in Mark's life and led him to flee from the scene.

After the shooting, Mark began a crime spree that lasted several days. He traveled across Pennsylvania and was involved in several serious incidents, but details about his life during his youth and the influences that led him to this path are not well documented. At the time of the events in 1995, Mark was 24 years old. Following the spree, he was arrested on February 3, 1995, in a motel room where he was hiding out.

Mark Spotz faced significant legal consequences for his actions. On April 24, 1996, he was sentenced to death for the murders he committed during his spree, including the killing of his brother. 

Murder Story

Mark Newton Spotz committed a series of murders in Pennsylvania over a span of four days from January 31 to February 2, 1995. The violent events began when he shot his brother, Dustin Spotz, during a family argument at their mother's home in Clearfield County. After this incident, Spotz fled into the night.

In the days that followed, Spotz carjacked and killed three women in three different counties. The first victim was June Rose Ohlinger, a 52-year-old from Schuylkill County. Spotz and an accomplice abducted her before stealing her car. Later, they traveled to York County, where Spotz killed 41-year-old Penny L. Gunnet in a similar manner. The third victim was Betty Amstutz, a 71-year-old retired Lutheran deaconess from Cumberland County, whom Spotz murdered on February 2, 1995.

Spotz's killing spree lasted just 48 hours. After the murder of Betty Amstutz, Spotz surrendered to the police at a motel in Middlesex Township, where he had been staying. Law enforcement found evidence linking him to the homicides, including a firearm and items stolen from his victims.

Following his arrest, Spotz was charged with multiple counts of murder. By April 24, 1996, he had been sentenced to death for the killings of the three women. He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the death of his brother. The cases continued to be the subject of legal appeals and ongoing legal discussions concerning his sentences.