Decision on Whether Stochmal Family Entitled to Killer's Record

The family of Joyce Stochmal, who was murdered in 1984 in Newtown, has won a preliminary victory in their fight to have the convicted killer's prison records released.

The hearing officer for the state Freedom of Information Commission has issued a preliminary ruling that the Stochmal family is entitled to review the prison records, with some restrictions, of David Weinberg.

That ruling came after a long effort by the Stochmal family - headed by Joyce's sister, Marianne Stochmal Heffernan, to see Weinberg's prison records.

The hearing officer's decision still has to be accepted by the FOI commission - which isn't likely until May. And that ruling can still be appealed - but it is none the less a victory.

Mairanne Stochmal Heffernan has been asking the FOI, and hearing officer Valicia Harmon, for information on the prison records of David Weinberg, who was recently released after serving 26 years for the killing in 1984 of 19-year-old Joyce Stochmal, Heffernan's sister. She was abducted, beaten and stabbed before her body was disposed of in a lake in Newtown.

Marianne Stochmal Heffernan had this to say, on Facebook, about the decision:

"Sharing this here, as I posted it on the Justice for Joyce page too. It is proof that when you stand up for what is right, sometimes, those deciding things also see it your way. In this case, that's because DOC records are public records. The public has a right to access them."