15/10/2026
ALLEGHENY COUNTY LAWMAKERS PUSH FOR STRONGER BAIL LAWS FOLLOWING HIGH-PROFILE MURDERS
MOON TOWNSHIP – Following several high-profile murder cases, Reps. Jeremy Shaffer (R-Allegheny), PA State Rep. Natalie Mihalek and PA State Rep. Valerie Gaydos announced they are working on legislation that would strengthen the bail process and protect all Pennsylvanians. The three Allegheny County lawmakers made the announcement Wednesday at a press conference at the Moon Township Park.
The Allegheny County lawmakers, along with PA State Rep. Jason Ortitay and Andrew Kuzma (R-Allegheny/Washington) are authoring two separate pieces of legislation following the recent murder of UPMC Children’s Hospital pediatrician Dr. Idris Evans and the attack of his wife.
Court records show the doctor’s alleged killer was out on bail under questionable conditions. At the time of the attack, the alleged perpetrator had been released on nonmonetary bail in a separate pending burglary case. He had also been arrested in Florida in March 2025 for allegedly assaulting a woman and again the following month for allegedly attacking sheriff’s deputies while on pretrial release.
“These allegations of repeated violence, coupled with multiple requests for protection orders, demonstrate a serious public safety concern that warranted careful scrutiny before any release decision,” Shaffer said.
Bail is used as a tool in the courts to make sure a person charged with a crime returns for required hearings and complies with the conditions set by the court.
Shaffer’s House Bill 2856 requires consideration of prior violent convictions, burglary convictions, other pending criminal charges and protection from abuse orders when a decision is made regarding bail.
“The question must be asked: How is a person with a violent past released on bail without stronger safeguards,” Shaffer said. “The tragic murder of Dr. Evans makes it crystal clear that assessing danger to the community must be a central part of any bail decision.”
Mihalek’s legislation, which she plans to introduce in the near future, would require a complete and current criminal history report, including Pennsylvania, out-of-state and federal records, be obtained and provided to the judge or magisterial district judge before bail is set or modified.
“This issue has exposed a simple truth about the Allegheny County bail system - there is no one looking out for victims in this case, the general public,” Mihalek said. “When an offender has an extensive criminal history, we have to prioritize safety above all else. The reality is that a loving wife and two children are mourning their father and husband, and other than the killer, a poorly executed bail system is to blame.”
Gaydos, a co-prime sponsor of the legislation from Shaffer and Mihalek, emphasized the importance of ensuring the justice system puts public safety first.
“Strengthening our bail laws starts with taking meaningful action to protect our communities,” said Gaydos. “We need to end no-cash bail for certain dangerous offenders, strengthen standards to ensure individuals who pose a serious threat are not released when no conditions can adequately protect the public and make sure judges have access to a defendant’s complete criminal history before making bail decisions. These are common-sense safeguards that can help prevent dangerous individuals from slipping through the cracks. We have a responsibility to protect victims, support law enforcement and keep our communities safe. Public safety must come first, and our bail system needs to reflect that.”
Ortitay said a defendant’s criminal history and potential danger to the community must be carefully considered.
“One of the purposes of bail is to assess the possible community danger of someone accused of a crime,” Ortitay said. “It is especially important to review an accused’s prior record. In this case, it makes no sense why no monetary bail was set when he was arrested in July.”
Kuzma pointed to another high-profile Allegheny County murder case while emphasizing the need for change.
“For the second time in just shy of two years, we have seen the consequences of nonmonetary bail on Allegheny County residents,” Kuzma said. “As a reminder, off-duty Liquor Control Enforcement agent Benjamin Brallier was fatally stabbed on the Montour Trail. The assailant had a prior assault and robbery arrest in Point State Park and was free on nonmonetary bail at the time of the murder. It’s past time changes were made to the bail system.”
Senator Devlin Robinson, who supported the House members in making their announcement Wednesday, has his own piece of legislation that would examine the bail process.
Senate Bill 490 passed the Senate in late March and is waiting for consideration in the House Judiciary Committee. The bill would prohibit the release without bail for certain individuals who pose a public safety risk.
Kelly Rae Roberston, a former Allegheny County Court employee of more than 14 years who worked as a bail investigator inside the intake department of the Allegheny County Jail, also attended Wednesday’s press conference. She said she witnessed pressure to recommend release of high-risk offenders.
