8-year-old’s violent death inspiring change to parole laws in Pennsylvania

UNION TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The tragic death of an 8-year-old is inspiring change.

Mark Mason, 8, was allegedly stabbed to death by his mother’s boyfriend – who was a convicted murderer just out on parole.

On July 8, just three months out on the street after serving the minimum sentence – 20 years, for a 1999 murder conviction – parolee Keith Burley killed again, police said, stabbing Mason to death inside a Union Township home.

State Rep. Aaron Bernstine said after hearing of this tragic story, he had to step in.

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“I have a 4-year-old son. I can’t imagine what they are going through. We had to do something,” he said.

With the support of the Lawrence County district attorney, Bernstine called Markie’s Law “a way to make sure violent offenders stay behind bars.”

8-year-old was heroic brother until final moments of life, father says Mark Mason was just 8 years old when he was killed, allegedly at the hands of his mother's boyfriend following an argument. Known by his friends and family as Markie,??the young boy had been in the car with his mother, brother and 43-year-old Keith Burley.

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