On September 1, 2017, the life of 55-year-old Kimberly Lesko, a White female, was tragically cut short in a violent home invasion in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. That night, she was staying at the Gross Street home of her sister, 52-year-old Melodie Robb, after a hospital visit. In the early morning hours, around 3 a.m., two men, Kylee Lankford and Miras Kelly II, both 19 at the time, forced their way into the residence with the intent to commit a robbery.
The events that followed were swift and brutal, leaving a lasting scar on their family and the community.
Inside the home, the situation quickly escalated. Lankford proceeded to a back room where he shot a male guest who was resting on a couch. Meanwhile, Kelly stayed in the living room with Lesko and Robb. When Lankford returned from the back room, he complained that his gun had jammed. He then took Kelly's firearm and shot both sisters. A neighbor reported hearing a single gunshot, a pause, and then three more. When police arrived, they found Kimberly Lesko and Melodie Robb deceased. The male victim was discovered critically wounded but ultimately survived the attack.
The investigation led Allegheny County police to identify Kelly and Lankford as the primary suspects. Miras Kelly II turned himself in to authorities shortly after the incident and was charged with criminal homicide, burglary, and robbery, among other charges. A search began for Kylee Lankford, who was considered armed and dangerous. He was apprehended, and the full weight of the justice system was brought to bear on the two young men responsible for the senseless killings.
During the legal proceedings, Miras Kelly accepted a plea deal. In exchange for his testimony against his accomplice, he pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, attempted homicide, and burglary, facing a sentence of 10 to 40 years in prison. Kelly's testimony was crucial in the case against Kylee Lankford, who was identified as the triggerman. In July 2018, a jury convicted Lankford on two counts of second-degree murder. Three months later, a judge sentenced him to two consecutive life sentences, ensuring he would never again pose a threat to society.
