Man who killed officers, others scheduled to be executed in Sept.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Tom Corbett signed an execution warrant for the man convicted of killing a Westmoreland County police officer in 1980.

Michael Travaglia was convicted of shooting and killed Apollo police Officer Leonard Miller on Jan 3, 1980.

Investigators said Miller stopped a car with Travaglia and two other men after it repeatedly sped past him. As Miller walked toward the car, police said he was shot twice.

When emergency crews responded, Miller's body was found lying on the highway. Miller's service weapon was drawn and all six rounds had been fired.

In 1981, Travaglia was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy and sentenced to death in Westmoreland County Court for Miller's death. Following a federal appeal, Travaglia was given a new sentencing hearing in 2005 and was again sentenced to death. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the sentence.

Miller's death was the last in a series of crimes committed by Travaglia and his co-defendant. According to court documents, in the days preceding Miller's death, Travaglia and his co-defendant forced Peter Levato to drive them out of Pittsburgh on Dec. 27, 1979. They then bound his feet and hands, hit him over the head and pushed him over a bridge.

When the men discovered Levato was still alive, Travaglia shot him once in the chest and twice in the head. Travaglia later pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and conspiracy for Levato's death.

Investigators said Travaglia also robbed and repeatedly shot Marlene Sue Newcomer, who had offered the men a ride in her vehicle on Jan. 1, 1980. Travaglia later pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and conspiracy for Newcomer's death.

Travaglia also forced William Nicholls to drive them out of Pittsburgh on Jan. 2, 1980, then shot, beat and gagged the man before pushing him into a lake where he drowned. Travaglia pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and conspiracy for that incident.

In 1985, Gov. Richard L. Thornburgh issued the first execution warrant and in 1990, Gov. Robert P. Casey issued a second execution warrant for Travaglia.

Travaglia, now 53, is incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution at Greene. His execution has been scheduled for Sept. 13, 2012.

Travaglia's co-defendant, John C. Lesko, was also sentenced to death. In September 2011, Corbett signed an execution warrant for Lesko, now 53, who is incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution at Graterford.

Travaglia's warrant is the 15th execution warrant signed by Corbett.

Executions in Pennsylvania are carried out by lethal injection.

WPXI