Apollo man convicted of first-degree murder in wife's killing

Nov. 16—Emily and Ean Steele said a Westmoreland County jury found justice for their mother.

The jury, after more than four hours of deliberations, convicted their father of first-degree murder Thursday for the May 14, 2022, execution-style slaying of 41-year-old Kelly Steele inside a U-Haul storage facility in Lower Burrell.

"It's definitely the outcome we wanted," said Ean, the 24-year son of Kelly and Alfred Keith Steele.

Prosecutors said Alfred Steele, 44, of Apollo fired one shot into the back of his wife's head, the culmination of years of fighting and an ongoing drug addiction he claimed was responsible for marital problems that led to the fatal shooting.

The Steele's 20-year-old daughter, Emily, said her father's conviction was what her family had sought.

"We finally get justice for my mother. I would not wish this on anyone," she said. "We just wanted the truth."

Emily Steele was the last witness to testify for the prosecution during the four-day trial, in which authorities contended Alfred Steele pressed a damaged 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, held together with wire, against the back of his wife's head and fired one shot.

Alfred Steele claimed he did not intend to kill his wife, but said in a confession he gave to police about an hour after the fatal shooting he was responsible for her death. Police found Kelly Steele's body inside the couple's storage locker, face down and in a pool of blood.

In his confession and again during testimony on Thursday, Alfred Steele claimed he became upset as husband and wife argued over his unconfirmed suspicions of her infidelity.

Both Emily Steele and her grandmother testified Kelly Steele did not have an affair.

As a result of the conviction, Alfred Steele faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. He will be formally sentenced in about three months.

Defense attorney Adam Gorzelsky said the conviction will be appealed based on his belief the case should have ended in a mistrial after two alternate jurors were dismissed before the start of court on Thursday. Westmoreland County Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio said the alternate jurors revealed thoughts about the case to the other panelists and one expressed frustration with the length of the trial.

The judge said she was satisfied the remaining jurors were untainted and could render a fair verdict.

"I don't feel this rises to the level of requiring a mistrial," Bilik-DeFazio said.

Alfred Steele was the lone witness to testify for the defense.

"It just happened," Steele told jurors. "I grabbed the gun. I don't remember pointing the gun. I didn't aim it. I don't remember putting the gun against the back of her head and that the gun went off."

He described years of marital problems that became exacerbated by his ongoing drug addiction issues and paranoia over unconfirmed suspicions that his wife had an affair.

Steele testified he met with his wife at the storage locker to retrieve clothes, to clear the air about their marriage, to disclose a burgeoning relationship with another woman he met at a drug rehabilitation program, and his efforts to track his wife's whereabouts through monitoring devices he planted in her vehicle and belongings.

He said their fight escalated after his wife pulled lingerie from a pile of clothes they sorted after driving in separate vehicles to the storage facility. Alfred Steele testified his wife taunted him over a piece of clothing he described as lingerie, and that she suggested she could wear it for someone other than her husband.

Steele said that's when he picked up the gun in what he claimed was a display of frustration that he compared to making an obscene gesture behind his wife's back.

"I never would have done it with my wife facing me. It was a childlike gesture I done behind her back," Steele testified.

Prosecutors said no lingerie was found in the storage unit.

Defense attorney Adam Gorzelsky argued Steele's actions did not amount of first-degree murder. He suggested jurors find Steele guilty of a lesser offense.

"Alfred Steele did not intend to kill his wife. He made a terrible, terrible decision that he and others have to live with. He is culpable," Gorzelsky said. "You should apply the rest of the facts to this and reach the correct level of culpability."

In addition to first and third-degree murder, the judge told jurors they could reach a verdict on lesser charges, including voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.

Assistant District Attorney Adam Barr argued first degree murder was the only viable verdict.

"This was an execution. This wasn't a mistake. It wasn't even a poor choice," Barr said. "If anything it was a series of poor choices and that adds up to intent.

"Make him accept the fact that he executed his wife."

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich by email at rcholodofsky@triblive.com or via Twitter .