Isenberg, Bertram: 1953

Bertram Isenberg, a 33 year old Altoona Area High School teacher, was fatally shot to death after picking up a hitchhiker on November 21, 1953. His body was covered in leaves not far from where authories found his wrecked car on a lonely mountain road. Charles N. Dermencizin (Dermendzin), of Duncansville, and AWOL from Fort Monroe, Virginia, at the time of the killing, was arrested by state police.

There was difficulty getting a jury seated, as the prosecutors sought the death penalty and prospect jurors had conscientious scruples against capital punishment. Prospective jurors were rounded up from the streets.

Defense attorney Robert Campbell asked the jury for acquittal, claiming the shoting was accidential, that Demencizin’s pistol had fired twice during a fight between the two men. Demencizin did make a statement to police that he had planned to rob Mr. Isenberg when he stopped to pick up up.

The jury decided in favor of a conviction for voluntary manslaughter, and the 20 year old killer was sentenced to 6 to 12 years in prison.