Double murderer's new trial bid rejected

MILFORD — Convicted double murderer Gregory Rowe’s bid for a new trial has been rejected by Pike County President Judge Joseph Kameen, District Attorney Ray Tonkin announced Wednesday. In January 2006, Rowe was convicted of intentionally killing his former girlfriend, Kristen Fisher, and their seven month old daughter, Kaylee Fisher at the Fisher home in Greentown. He was sentenced to two life sentences. In April of this year, Rowe filed a post-conviction petition seeking a new trial. Rowe claimed that his lawyer at trial did not provide effective assistance of counsel. Alleging that his lawyer made mistakes, Rowe claimed that his lawyer did not make proper arguments on appeal, and failed to argue that Rowe’s mother, Cheryl Kunkle, was responsible for the death of Kristin and Kaylee Fisher. In rejecting Rowe’s claims, President Judge Kameen noted Rowe’s confessed involvement with his mother, Cheryl Kunkle, in the Monroe County murder of Benjamin Amato. Kameen’s opinion stated “Given the fact that counsel evaluated the information that the Defendant was involved in the Monroe County homicide with his mother, the striking similarity between the cases, the risk that these might consider “signature crimes” and the possibility of the death penalty clearly evidence that trial counsel weighed all of this information carefully and made strategic and tactical decisions that were designed to challenge the Commonwealth’s evidence of guilt and, whether successful or unsuccessful, to preserve his client’s life.” Tonkin said, “the evidence in this case overwhelmingly established that Gregory Rowe is exactly where he should be for the rest of his life, state prison. As with most murderers, Rowe is simply using red herrings in an attempt to focus attention away from the facts of the case. We are happy that both the jury and now Judge Kameen reviewed the evidence carefully and determined that Rowe is the one responsible for the murder of Kristen and Kaylee Fisher.” Rowe can now appeal the decision to the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Meanwhile, Rowe is currently incarcerated in the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution in Albion, Pennsylvania.