George Banks - Timeline

Timeline

1. September 1982: George Banks is relieved of duty as a Camp Hill State Prison guard after a conflict with a supervisor, and is evaluated at a Harrisburg-area hospital for mental-health issues. A later evaluation in Luzerne County, where he lived, characterizes Banks as "filled with hate and anger at the world in general." On Sept. 25, Banks kills 13 people, including five of his children, at two houses in Wilkes-Barre and its suburbs.
2. March 1983: A three-day hearing results in Banks' being ruled mentally competent to stand trial.
3. June 1983: Trial testimony begins in Pittsburgh. Against his lawyers' advice, Banks testifies, saying police killed as many as nine of the victims. He is found guilty of killing 13 people, wounding a 14th, and other offenses. He receives 12 death sentences and one life sentence.
4. November 1985: After Banks' county-level appeals are exhausted, a judge formally imposes the death penalties.
5. February 1987: State Supreme Court upholds the verdicts.
6. October 1987: U.S. Supreme Court declines to take up the case.
7. February 1996: Gov. Tom Ridge signs Banks' death warrant. Banks later receives a stay of execution.
8. August 1997: An appeal is argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
9. March 1999: Ridge signs another death warrant for Banks, and a federal judge issues another stay.
10. October 2001: The Third Circuit reverses the death sentences based on wording of jury instructions.
11. May 2002: Prison officials obtain a court order to force-feed Banks, who had gone more than 16 days on inadequate food and water.
12. June 2002: U.S. Supreme Court sends the case back to the Third Circuit, which later upholds its previous ruling in Banks' favor. The case is sent back the U.S. Supreme Court.
13. June 2004: U.S. Supreme Court rules against Banks.
14. October 2004: Gov. Rendell signs Banks' death warrant.
15. Dec. 1, 2004: State Supreme Court halts the execution and orders a county judge to determine whether Banks is mentally competent.