The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear an appeal from a man convicted of killing a mother and daughter during a 2015 home invasion in East Drumore Township.

Leeton Thomas killed Lisa Scheetz and her 16-year-old daughter because they were potential witnesses in his pending sexual assault case. Thomas nearly killed Scheetz’ 15-year-old daughter in the early-morning attack.

Thomas, 42, was convicted at trial of two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and related charges and sentenced to death.

Thomas filed to have the U.S. Supreme Court hear his appeal which challenged the constitutionality of the death penalty.

The country’s highest court recently issued a filing denying the allowance of appeal.

At trial in 2017, the surviving daughter testified that “Pie” – a nickname for Thomas – was the intruder and killer.

Prosecutors presented these aggravating factors for the jury in consideration of a life or death sentence:

- Thomas killed witnesses in a separate criminal prosecution (his pending sex-abuse case);

- Thomas committed the killing(s) during the commission of another felony (burglary);

- Thomas killed multiple people;

- Thomas broke a court order (a no-contact order) during the killings;

- Thomas presented a grave risk of death to another individual (the 15-year-old girl) besides those he killed.

The jury decided on a death sentence.

While imposing the death sentence, Judge Dennis Reinaker said that should Pennsylvania lift a moratorium on executions, Thomas “should go to the very top of the list.”

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Todd McCurdy filed charges.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright