A Lancaster County judge has ruled that Alexander Whisman, a 19-year-old from East Drumore Township, Pennsylvania, will be tried as an adult for his alleged role in the death of his cousin, Matthew Whisman. The decision was made on Tuesday (August 5) due to the limited time available in the juvenile justice system before Alexander turns 21.
Alexander Whisman faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, in connection with the April 2024 death of Matthew Whisman, who was 25 at the time. Prosecutors allege that Alexander, along with co-defendants Jeremy Absher and Steven Gaddis, kidnapped, beat, and injected Matthew with fentanyl before throwing his body over a bridge in Maryland. Matthew's remains were discovered in August 2024.
The case will remain in adult court, as homicide is automatically treated as an adult crime in Pennsylvania. Although minors can request to have their cases moved to juvenile court, the judge determined that there wasn't enough time for rehabilitation in the juvenile system.
According to WGAL, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Harbaugh presented an expert's report on Alexander's amenability, which the judge accepted. The report's details were not disclosed.
Prosecutors plan to try Alexander Whisman, Jeremy Absher, and Steven Gaddis together, though a trial date has not been set. All three are scheduled for a status conference on August 28. Alexander is currently held at Lancaster County Prison, while Absher and Gaddis are held in York and Chester County Prisons, respectively. Anyone who needs to talk can call 800-273-8255 no matter the time of day.