Sherry Leighty of Altoona had been missing since 1999 before her father-in-law admitted to her murder in 2013.
For the last five years, Leighty’s sister has been fighting to make sure he doesn’t get out on parole.
Shelly Nagle said her sister’s murderer was denied parole for the fourth time last month and that she will continue to work to keep him in prison.
She presented a petition to the parole board with more than 30,000 signatures of people against his release.
Nagle said, “I am Sherry’s advocate, and I will fight; I will continue to fight to keep that monster behind bars.”
Sherry was missing for more than 13 years before her body was found on her father-in-law’s property in Huntingdon County in 2013.
The Altoona Police Department made a plea deal with now 76-year-old Kenneth Leighty to locate the missing body.
He was convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to seven to fourteen years in state prison.
“For over 13 years she was missing and all that time he was free, and he knew what he did,” Nagle said.
Since his sentencing, Kenneth Leighty has been denied parole four times, including this February.
Nagle started a Facebook page remembering her sister and gained more than 5,000 followers, and has gotten more than 30,000 people to sign a petition opposing Kenneth Leighty’s release.
Nagle said, “I was determined for him to serve his entire sentence because the 7 to 14 years is definitely not long enough.”
Nagle says that the board’s most recent decision to deny parole was for reasons such as ‘lack of remorse’ and ‘refusal to accept responsibility.’
“If and when he will be released in 2027, I do fear for my safety and the safety of my family.” Nagle added.
She said the community’s support means a lot and that it helps with the denial.
Nagle says that Leighty will not be up for parole again until February of 2026, and that when that time comes, she will keep fighting on behalf of her sister.
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