Bergen County Man Who Stabbed Sister 109 Times As A Teen Will Get New Trial

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A man who admitted stabbing his sister 109 times after an argument when he was 17 will get a new trial, according to a court document and published reports.

Travis Gallo was prosecuted as an adult and found guilty of first-degree murder after the December 2013 killing, according to a document.

Gallo was one of 10 children of Dr. Robert Gallo of Washington Township, who was known for taking in foster children, according to the New York Post. Gallo and his wife had seven biological children and three adopted, including Travis Gallo and his adopted sister, Tela, 20.

According to a court document, back in 2013, "After defendant waived his right to remain silent, he was interviewed alone and admitted to intentionally killing his sister. He said he contemplated doing it ever since his fight with his sister the prior month of November. He was in the kitchen reheating pasta when his sister walked in, and he felt 'there was some tension.' After he finished eating, he took a kitchen knife to his room, waited a few minutes before kicking in his sister's door, and stabbed her approximately 109 times."

Dr. Robert Gallo and his wife had adopted Travis when he was 3 and his adopted sister (who was not related to Travis) when she was 4, according to the Post.

"Washington Township police arrested defendant at his home shortly after Teia's murder and took him to the local police station. Det. Boesch advised defendant that because he was a juvenile he could not speak about the incident until his father was present," says the court document. "Before Dr. Gallo left his uncuffed son to be interviewed, Det. Boesch confirmed with Dr. Gallo and defendant that they both wanted the interview to proceed without Dr. Gallo being present.

"At no point were the father and son given the opportunity to speak alone, outside the presence of law enforcement, before they both waived the right to have the father present during the interviewed."

Travis Gallo was sentenced to 50 years in prison, but has since argued that he may not have been fit to stand trial, and that there were problems with waiving his rights.

The Appellate Court found a Miranda right violation in the case, and decided on Wednesday that he will get a new trial, reported NJ.com on Thursday.

Gallo had turned 18 six weeks after the killing, NJ.com noted. He's now 28.