Thomas Stockman, a 21-year-old male from Portersville, Pennsylvania, tragically died on April 17, 2014, in Muddy Creek Township. He was shot in the side of the chest with a .22-caliber rifle by his friend, Jeremey Sickenberger, in the living room of Sickenberger's mobile home on Robbie Way. The incident occurred while the two were "horsing around" and watching a movie. Sickenberger claimed that the shooting was accidental and that he did not know the gun was loaded.
Following the incident, Jeremey Sickenberger, who was 22 years old at the time, was charged with one count of criminal homicide. He was held in the Butler County Jail while awaiting a preliminary hearing. In 2016, a Butler County Common Pleas Court jury convicted Sickenberger of third-degree murder and sentenced him to 18 to 40 years in prison.
In a recent development, the state Superior Court ordered a new trial for Sickenberger in June 2023. The appellate court ruled that Sickenberger received ineffective assistance of counsel during his initial trial. The defense argued that Sickenberger's trial attorney failed to include "mistake of fact" instructions to the jury, which could have influenced their deliberations. Sickenberger's attorney also argued that his client's autism diagnosis was not presented to the jury, which could have affected their perception of his emotional state and intent.
The case continues to unfold as the district attorney's office plans to file a petition requesting oral arguments before a full panel of Superior Court judges. The new trial has not yet been scheduled, and the legal proceedings are ongoing.
Thomas Stockman was remembered as an exceptional young man with a beautiful heart, who was happiest with his family and friends. He is deeply missed by everyone who knew him.
