Former Carlisle Man Convicted Of Witness Tampering Through Murder

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Willie Tyler, age 65, formerly of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was convicted of witness tampering through physical force and murder for his role in a homicide in April 1992. The jury returned the verdicts after two-hours of deliberation after a four-day trial in Harrisburg before United States District Court Judge John E. Jones, III.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the case involved the brutal murder of a law enforcement confidential informant from the Carlisle area. The victim was scheduled to testify in Cumberland County Court against David Tyler, the brother of the defendant, on the day of her murder. Willie Tyler planned to murder the victim, along with four other individuals, who were convicted for their role in the murder in previous federal and state court proceedings.

Tyler was first tried in state court in 1994, and acquitted for the murder. The case was then adopted for federal prosecution, and Tyler was convicted after a federal jury trial in 1996. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals overturned his conviction and the case was re-tried in 2000. Following a jury trial in 2000, Tyler was again convicted but in 2013, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the 2000 conviction and remanded the case to the district court for a new trial. Tyler was then re-tried and convicted for the third time today.

"After 25 years and three federal trials, justice has been served, yet again, in the brutal murder of a witness who was cooperating with a joint drug task force. Our office will not rest, no matter how long it takes, to ensure that individuals who attempt to subvert justice by silencing witnesses are held accountable for their crimes.” “I also want to thank all the dedicated law enforcement officers, current and retired, who worked so long and hard in making sure justice was served,” stated United States Attorney Brandler.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and the Pennsylvania State Police with cooperation from the Carlisle Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea Schinnour, Joseph J. Terz and Special Assistant United States Attorney Gordon A. Zubrod.

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