Local attorney hopes to reopen decades old murder case

It's been 38 years since Leroy Evans was convicted for the 1980 beating and strangulation death of Emily Leo inside a home in Chester. But questions still remain about the case and subsequent sentencing.

These questions center around Anthony Jones, who was a key co-defendant in the case, according to a Media attorney who wants the case reopened.

Mike Malloy interviewed Jones at the state prison in Marienville, Pa. in 2016 and recorded Jones admitting he attacked Leo after luring her to his home. On the tape, Jones says he grabbed some clothesline from the backyard.

At trial, Jones said Evans was there in fact was the killer, however, in the jailhouse interview he says Evans who is nicknamed June was nowhere in sight.

"You can't meet him, you can't listen to that tape and you can't look at the evidence and not have so many questions," said Malloy.

The Media lawyer hopes the recording is compelling enough to reopen the case. Some, however, aren't as convinced by the new evidence the interview revealed.

"Mr. Evans is guilty as charged and deserves to remain in prison," said former Chester cop and husband of Emily Leo's niece, John Kaisner.

Evans' 84-year-old mother, Alice Evans, hopes the evidence will help bring her now 61-year-old son back home.

"It seems like, you know, something's missing from the family," said Evans. "I would love to see him out, on the ground, before God takes me off this earth."