Convicted Schuylkill murderer gets 20-40 years

Convicted murderer Eric Mumaw will serve a minimum 20 years and 4 months to a maximum 40 years and 8 months in state prison for the killing of 27-year-old David Gombert on Nov. 1, 2016.

Judge Charles Miller’s sentences on related charges are concurrent for terroristic threats (1 to 2 months), prohibited offensive weapon/brass knuckles (1 to 2 months) and prohibited offensive weapon/handgun (3 to 6 months). For the charge, abuse of corpse, the sentence is consecutive, 4 to 8 months. A charge of reckless endangerment of another person was merged with the other charges.

Mumaw, 32, of Kline Township, killed Gombert of Beaver Meadows, during an incident at Mumaw’s residence in McAdoo Heights. A Schuylkill County jury returned the guilty verdict Nov. 22. Mumaw shot Gombert in the chest and also punched him in the mouth using brass knuckles.

During the trial, Pennsylvania State Police forensic examiner Lori McDaniel said Mumaw took six cellphone images of Gombert’s body between 9:06 and 9:07 that morning. Mumaw made a 911 call at 9:09 which lasted until 9:14. He took two more images after the 911 call, and sent images to his mother’s cellphone at 9:22.

During the sentencing proceedings, Mumaw’s attorney Andrew Katsock entered eight “defendant’s impact” statements into evidence and spoke on Mumaw’s behalf.

“I’ve spent a tremendous amount of time with him and call him my friend,” Katsock said. “I ask for him to be released as soon as possible, so he can go back to his life.”

Mumaw’s stepfather and mother, Donald and Susan Lowmaster, also asked for leniency. His mother said Mumaw hopes to pursue a career as a social worker after serving time. Eric Lowmaster said that Mumaw could help others and himself.

“Only Eric can help others and me find answers to our questions — the questions that stand in the way of peace and closure for all of us,” he said.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Stine didn’t agree.

“His (Mumaw’s) actions don’t support leniency,” Stine said, noting that Mumaw delayed the 911 call, attempted to conceal the brass knuckles, took pictures of the body and at no time has shown remorse. “But number one is the effect on the Gombert family — it’s said that time heals all wounds, but that’s not true in this instance.”

Tabitha Gombert, who is a daughter-in-law of Raymond and Colleen Gombert, read a statement written by David’s mother, Colleen.

“He (David) was a blessing, a gift from God, the kindest, most sensitive, caring person, and his heart’s desire was to have a family of his own,” she had written. “You’re (Mumaw) no man, you’re a coward.”

“This journey of grief is not easy, and the road must be traveled every day,” Colleen Gombert wrote. “I am proud of the man David was — he was and always will be a hero.”

“I want others to know that it doesn’t get better, doesn’t get easier,” she wrote. “You took his life, his future, his dreams — from him and from his family.”

“I don’t want sympathy,” she concluded. “I want justice.”

Judge Miller called Mumaw’s actions “beyond the pall of any reasonable person.”

“There hasn’t been any display of remorse; there just seemed to be an indifference,” Miller said. “You need total confinement — the public’s got to be protected from you.”

After the sentencing, Gombert’s father spoke briefly.

“There are no winners, just losers,” Raymond Gombert said. “But they get to see him, and we don’t.”