A Pennsylvania man, 29-year-old G. Siosko, was sentenced to twenty-nine and a half to sixty years in prison after pleading guilty but mentally ill to third-degree murder, arson, and terroristic threats in the killing of a family member, 67-year-old M. Finlay. Judge CheIak handed down the sentence on May 9, 2025.
Last April, emergency services were dispatched to the victim’s home in Pennsylvania after a fire started. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered the defendant covered in blood near the front of the home. He apparently made his way deeper inside the home, threatening anyone who attempted to enter. After the fire was extinguished, investigators found the victim’s body in the kitchen.
An autopsy revealed that the elderly woman died of both sharp and blunt force injuries. Investigators found that she had already died when the fire was set.
During an interview with investigators, the defendant reportedly acknowledged killing his grandmother and lighting the fire. He mentioned that he believed the flea medication she was using on her animal companion was hazardous and that he needed to take action. He also said, “She was the devil, and I had to do it,” and referenced utilizing the “holy spirit and fire” to kill the devil.
The defendant was initially found incapable of standing trial due to a schizophrenia diagnosis. However, a subsequent review determined his competence. In March 2025, he pleaded guilty but remained silent on the charges. The case was pursued by District Attorney Tankin, who focused on the victim’s loved ones’ tremendous sadness.
