MILFORD - The Pennsylvania Superior Court has upheld the life without parole sentences of Joseph Atwell and Jesus Rosario-Torres for their involvement in the 2007 kidnapping and murder of Norman Domenech, of Harrisburg. In the 2010 trial of Atwell and Rosario-Torres, Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin and First Assistant District Attorney Bruce DeSarro presented evidence that the two lured Domenech into a vehicle and then travelled to Porter Township where they killed him in May of 2007.

In April of 2010 a Pike County jury found both Atwell and Rosario-Torres guilty of First Degree Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, Kidnapping, and Firearms not to be carried without a license. Pike County President Judge Joseph Kameen sentenced both to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

In their appeals before the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, both Atwell and Rosario-Torres claimed that Judge Kameen had failed to grant their motions to sever their trials. Atwell argued that “it was inappropriate for him to be included with Torres,” citing his off behaviors, inaccurate statements, and his severe criminal history. The Superior Court noted that crimes Atwell and Rosario-Torres were charged with were identical to each other and that Atwell failed to explain how Rosario-Torres’ statements were prejudicial to him.