Court denies murderer appeal

HARRISBURG — Pike County District Attorney-Elect Ray Tonkin on Wednesday reported that the state’s highest court denied a request for appeal from Gregory Rowe. The denial upheld the double murder convictions and double life sentence of Rowe for the killings of seventeen year-old Kristin Fisher and seven month-old Kaylee Fisher in their Greentown home in May 2004. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued its one-line denial on Dec. 28. A Pike County jury convicted Rowe in January 2006, and Pike County Judge Joseph F. Kameen sentenced him to a double life sentence on Feb. 8, 2006. Tonkin, who was the lead trial prosecutor and also argued the case on appeal before the Superior Court last year, said that they he was pleased with the decision. “The Supreme Court’s decision upholds our belief that the evidence of Rowe’s guilt was overwhelming. Hopefully, the court’s decision will provide some peace of mind to the family of Kristin and Kaylee in this new year.” On May 4, 2004, Kathleen Fisher returned to her residence to find Kristin on the garage floor with a noose on her neck, and Kaylee drowned in a bathtub. After a month-long investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police charged Rowe with two counts of first degree murder. Rowe is currently serving his sentence at the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution at Albion. Evidence against Rowe included a witness’ account of Rowe’s request of her to find internet instructions for the fashioning of a noose, another witness’ account of Rowe’s request to not disclose his request about that internet search because he felt it would incriminate him, the discovery of his vehicle on a desolate road behind the Fisher residence on the day of the murders and another witness testimony about his inquiry about the purchase of rope. Rowe had also been scheduled to attend a child support hearing on the day following the murders.