Judge decides to send suspect in 8-year-old's stabbing death back to Pa. today

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — A man accused of stabbing an 8-year-old boy to death in Lawrence County faced a judge Thursday in Youngstown, Ohio, where he was arrested Tuesday.

During the extradition hearing for Keith Burley, a judge decided to send the 43-year-old back to Pennsylvania to face homicide and other charges.

Burley's childhood friend was in court for Thursday's hearing. He told Channel 11 he doesn't condone Burley's actions.

"My sympathy goes out to the family obviously. It's a little child. I've got kids," said Bill Greenawalt. "It is sad. A child lost his life and knowing that your friend. Thinking that he's got his self right. You know, turned out to do something like this don't sit well with me."

Police said Burley fatally stabbed Mark Mason, who is his girlfriend's son, following a dispute Monday night in Union Township.

The dispute, which started in a car, involved Burley and the boy’s mother. Investigators said the woman pulled over and got out of the car to get help, at which point Burley drove off with her two children.

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Burley drove to a home on High Street, where he allegedly stabbed Mason, authorities said.

U.S. marshals arrested Burley Tuesday morning in Youngstown. He had been released from prison in March after serving 20 years for murder.

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